What better way is it to start a new month than by introducing new laws? As the month of June comes to an end and we head toward the month of July, a new minimum wage law will be set in stone for the city of Chicago.
What is the minimum wage increasing to?
Starting July 1, employees working for an employer with at least 21 employees, must earn at least $15.80 per hour. At first, the wage was $15.40 per hour, therefore it has increased up to 40 cents. For employers with less than 21 workers though, $15.00 per hour is their new wage, giving them an increase of 50 cents.
What about tipped workers?
Tipped workers such as bartenders and restaurant servers, tend to have lower wages than non-tipped workers. But this new wage rule will affect them as much as it affects non-tipped workers.
Tipped workers with large employers must be paid at least $9.48 per hour while topped workers with smaller employers must be paid at least $9:00 per hour. If when these bartenders and restaurant servers do not receive enough tips to make up for this, their employers must pay them it themselves.
Exceptions to the new law
With every new law, there are exceptions.
These exceptions include:
- $13.50 must be paid to youth workers who are 24 or younger and work jobs administrated by nonprofit organizations or government agencies.
- Employees who work for employers that have four or less employees must follow Illinois’ minimum wage law of $13.00 per hour.
What about the suburbs?
The minimum wage in the suburbs of Cook County will imitate Chicago’s new minimum wage. Non-tipped workers’ wages will increase from $13.35 per hour to $13.70 per hour. Tipped workers’ wages will increase from $7.40 per hour to $8.00 per hour.
Chicago is putting forth the effort in making a dedication to change the value of economic prosperity among its working residents. In hopes that this new law will reflect this, Chicago hopes to continue increasing the wage as time proceeds.
Written by Makayla Grison
Sources:
Chicago Tribune: Chicago’s minimum wage is increasing July 1. Here’s what to know
NBC Chicago News: Chicago minimum wage hike, end of Illinois grocery tax suspension begin July 1, among other laws
Chicago Gov: Minimum Wage Increase and Fair Workweek Changes Go Into Effect July 1, 2023
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Keith Cooper’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License Featured
Inset Image by Jay Baker at Annapolis, MD Courtesy of Maryland GovPics’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
