Could Raising the Minimum Wage Decrease Employment?
Many states are now passing legislation to raise minimum wages. Previous minimum wages are not matching the inflating cost of living in the United States. Minimum wage increase faces heavy opposition from many politicians who argue that raising it will eliminate many low paying jobs. Recently, Arizona raised their minimum wage from $8.05 to $10, and are reporting an increase in low-skilled labor in the service industry almost 6 times greater than the rest of the economy. While Arizona and other states are in the beginning stages of minimum wage increase policies, seeing an increase in employment is a step in the right direction for employee rights and silencing opponents of the increases. In Texas, the minimum wage is $7.25, and making any less than this is illegal.
How Can My Employer Commit Wage Theft?
- Not paying overtime: Any employer requiring you to work “off the clock,” or asking you to work overtime to “volunteer” is illegal. Any non-exempt employee needs to be paid overtime for working over 40 hours.
- Writing off hours: It is illegal for your employer to shave off hours on your timesheet to avoid paying you more.
- Offering time off instead of overtime: Some employers have been caught offering employees time off instead of giving them the overtime pay that they deserve.
Texas employment law attorney Dan A. Atkerson can help victims of workplace discrimination discover if they have legal options against their employers.