The minimum wage in Los Angeles is set to go up to $13.25 per hour on July 1, and that’s right around the corner.
In January, the statewide minimum wage increased to $11 per hour for workers at companies with 25 or fewer employees and $12 for workers at companies with 26 or more employees – but the city of Los Angeles is working its way up to beat the state’s schedule.
Related: California’s minimum wage
Minimum wage is the least amount of money an employer is permitted to pay its employees. California is a leader in minimum wage – throughout the country, wages are far lower than they are here. In fact, the federal minimum wage has been $7.25 per hour since July 24, 2009.
According to the MIT Living Wage Calculator, LA’s new minimum wage is closer to a living wage than most, but it still needs to be higher. Check out this chart:
Hourly Wage | 1 Adult, 1 Child | 1 Adult, 2 Children | 2 Adults (1 Working), 1 Child |
Living Wage | $14.36/hour | $36.06/hour | $27.91/hour |
Poverty Wage | $5.84/hour | $9.99/hour | $7.91/hour |
Although LA is approaching the necessary $15 per hour that the entire state of California will adopt by 2023 (see the chart below for more information on California’s wage increases), the fact is that some employers try to get out of paying people the appropriate minimum wage.
If your employer fails to pay you the required minimum wage in Los Angeles, you could have legal recourse.
The state of California is raising its minimum wage on January 1 of the years listed below.
Year | 25 Employees or Fewer | 26 or More Employees |
2020 | $12/hour | $13/hour |
2021 | $13/hour | $14/hour |
2022 | $14/hour | $15/hour |
2023 | $15/hour |
Related: Wages in California
If your employer isn’t paying you the right minimum wage after July 1 this year and you work in Los Angeles, you could have legal recourse.
Nobody can agree to receive a wage lower than minimum wage. The minimum wage is the lowest an employer is allowed to pay you – and you can’t enter into an agreement with an employer to work for less.
When an employer fails to pay you the local minimum wage, for any reason, you may be able to sue the employer. If you decide to sue, you could be eligible to receive damages such as:
In some cases, people receive liquidated damages that are equal to the amount of the unpaid minimum wages and interest. If you received liquidated damages in the example above, where your employer owed you an additional $32.50, you’d actually receive $65. That’s twice the amount of the unpaid minimum wage.
Related: When should you call a Los Angeles labor lawyer?
Because LA’s minimum wage is scheduled to go up, there may be some confusion among employers – it happens. But if your employer doesn’t pay you what you’re supposed to receive, we may be able to help you.
Call us at 818-230-8380 now to talk to a lawyer who understands the law and how it applies in your situation. We’ll answer your questions and tell you about your options.
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