Federal Minimum Wage Increases to $5.85 effective July 24, 2007

Note that Missouri’s internal minimum wage is $6.50

The minimum wage is a political football for some reason. The Democratic majority (since Nov 2006) in Congress got a Federal minimum wage increase passed. The last time the Federal minimum wage increased was under the administration of Democrat Bill Clinton. In Missouri, our minimum wage increased in 2007 due to a citizen referendum, not by action of our legislature.

BLURB ABOUT MINIMUM WAGE FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR: “Workers who are covered by the FLSA are entitled to a minimum wage of not less than $5.85 per hour effective July 24, 2007. Overtime pay at a rate of not less than one and one-half times their regular rate of pay is required after 40 hours of work in a workweek. Certain exemptions apply to specific types of businesses or specific types of work. The FLSA does not, however, require severance pay, sick leave, vacations, or holidays.”

How can Missouri have a higher minimum wage than the Federal Government?

The minimum wage laws of the Federal Government allow the states to set a higher minimum wage.

LINKS:

US Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division. This is where you can get some info about who is covered by the minimum wage and overtime laws.

US Department of Labor minimum wage info page

Missouri Department of Labor minimum wage info page

Tim's Missouri Employment Law
is by Attorney Tim Willoughby

Tim is a St. Louis Missouri employment lawyer and a member of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA). Visit NELA.org and the Missouri Bar Lawyer Directory.