Minimum Wage Increase: Good News for Long Island Workers

Good news for workers on Long Island. Effective December 31, 2017, the minimum wage on Long Island will increase from $10.00 to $11.00 for 2018. For fast food workers, the minimum wage on Long Island will increase from $10.75 to $11.75. The law also requires employers to post a notice issued by the Department of Labor summarizing the minimum wage provisions “in a conspicuous place” in their establishment, pursuant to 12 NYCRR §142-2.8. Moreover, under New York State Labor Law § 195.1, employers must issue to their employees a “Notice and Acknowledgement of Pay Rate and Pay Day” to reflect the employees’ new rate of pay, if it is increasing under the new minimum wage.

The increases in wages are enacted as part Governor Cuomo’s legislation encompassed in the 2016-2017 state budget and was considered a victory in the larger, national “Fight for $15” movement. Under the plan, the minimum wage will increase by $1.00 each year, eventually resulting in a $15.00 minimum wage on December 31, 2021. However, starting in 2019, the New York State Division of the Budget will conduct an annual analysis of the economy to study the effect of the minimum wage increases. Based on the results of the study, the State will then determine whether the planned increases should be temporarily suspended. According to Governor Cuomo’s website, “it is estimated that more than 2.3 million people will be affected by the increases in the minimum wage.” Long Island employees can look forward to this increased minimum wage in the New Year.