All California employers should by now be using the new minimum wage law poster released by the California Industrial Welfare Commission. The poster serves to notify all employees of the planned minimum wage increases that will apply to most employees. Specifically, the poster states that the current $8.00 minimum wage will increase to $9.00 on July 1, 2014, and again to $10.00 on January 1, 2016, a 25% increase over 18 months. The poster also provides information on increased meal and lodging credits against wages that are available when an employer and employee voluntarily agree to the credits in writing.Interestingly, the 25% increase in California’s minimum wage, although significant, is not the greatest percentage increase in California minimum wage history. Since minimum wage was established in California in 1916, minimum wage has been increased by a percentage of 25% or more 9 times. The greatest percentage increase occurred in 1947 when minimum wage was increased from $.45 to $.65 per hour, a 44.44% increase. Ah, the good old days.

The new minimum wage poster can be found here.

A Spanish version is also available here.

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