Raising The Federal Minimum Wage Could Help Struggling Families And Communities

A movement is underway in Congress to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to as much as $10. Under current federal employment law – the Fair Labor Standards Act [FLSA] – employers are required to pay workers at least $7.25 an hour. Several states including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Illinois and elsewhere are pushing to raise the minimum wage above the federal level in their own states, arguing that $7.25 an hour is too meager for anyone to live on. Despite some opposition, this proposal is gaining momentum in Congress.

If you believe your employer has failed to pay you the wages you are entitled to, you may be able to file a wage and hour case against them for back wages. If you have any questions about minimum wage or your pay, it is important to contact an experienced Atlanta wage and hour lawyer to discuss your situation and determine your next steps.

Congress last passed a bill to increase minimum wages in 2006, phasing in higher rates over several years. Although some states raise the minimum wage automatically every year as the cost of living increases, federal law does not provide for an automatic increase.

In addition to helping families who get by on minimum wage, benefits of increasing the minimum wage include stimulating local economies by giving individuals more money to spend on necessities like food and clothing, which may in turn spawn new jobs.

As stated by Senator Tom Harkin, head of the Senate Labor Committee, “Establishing a reasonable minimum wage is the simplest thing we can do to help hard-working families make ends meet, join the middle class, and help move the economy forward.”

In 2010, 1.8 million hourly workers earned exactly the prevailing federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, according to federal data.

For more information or if you believe your employer has not paid you the wages you are entitled to, please contact the dedicated Georgia minimum wage lawyers Buckley Bala Wilson Mew LLP for an immediate case evaluation.