By McKenna Schueler
Orlando Weekly, Oct 1, 2024
Florida’s minimum wage increased by one dollar on Monday, making its wage floor now the highest in the U.S. Southeast. The state minimum wage is now $13 an hour for workers who don’t receive tips, and $8.98 an hour for tipped employees. This dollar increase came as a direct result of a ballot measure approved by a majority of Florida voters in 2020 to gradually increase the state minimum wage to $15 an hour.
As a result of this measure, Florida’s minimum wage rose to $10 an hour on Sept. 30, 2021, and has increased $1 on the same day each year after. The minimum wage will continue rising until it reaches $15 an hour on Sept. 30, 2026. After that, it will increase based on inflation.
Labor advocates, and even a coalition of business owners in support of a fair wage, celebrated this victory in 2020 ...
Researchers have found that, even with protections in place, wage theft is a widespread issue in low-wage jobs like fast food work, and Florida in particular has been highlighted as a wage-theft hotspot. ...