Minimum Wage: Should it be Raised? According to Merriam-Webster, a minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labor. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in many jurisdictions, differences of opinion exist about the benefits and drawbacks of a minimum wage. The federal minimum wage has been a controversial matter since 1894 when New Zealand implemented the first ever minimum wage. Soon after, many countries followed in their footsteps. Although the federal minimum wage in the United States is $7.25 according to the Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA), states have the ability to lower or raise that number by their minimum wage laws. In
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Exempt employees are those who do not qualify to receive the minimum wage. This is not particularly a bad thing, this actually means that if you adhere to the rules of the FLSA you have the right to earn at least one and a half times their regular rate. Someone cannot simply be considered exempt because of their job title. They must fit the exact requirements by the FLSA depending on the type of employee. The five types of employee are executive, administrative, professional, computer, or outside sales employee. Non-exempt employees are workers that are subject to FLSA. They are to account for their hours worked and are compensated for the hours they work according to the minimum wage. But, they also must be paid for all the hours they work overtime. The only types of employees that are never exempt are blue collar workers and first responders. Blue collar workers use their hands and their skills in their everyday jobs. An example would be a construction worker or an electrician. First responders are trained personnel that are certified in giving aid to those in need. Examples of first responders would be firefighters, police, and
Exempt employees are those who do not qualify to receive the minimum wage. This is not particularly a bad thing, this actually means that if you adhere to the rules of the FLSA you have the right to earn at least one and a half times their regular rate. Someone cannot simply be considered exempt because of their job title. They must fit the exact requirements by the FLSA depending on the type of employee. The five types of employee are executive, administrative, professional, computer, or outside sales employee. Non-exempt employees are workers that are subject to FLSA. They are to account for their hours worked and are compensated for the hours they work according to the minimum wage. But, they also must be paid for all the hours they work overtime. The only types of employees that are never exempt are blue collar workers and first responders. Blue collar workers use their hands and their skills in their everyday jobs. An example would be a construction worker or an electrician. First responders are trained personnel that are certified in giving aid to those in need. Examples of first responders would be firefighters, police, and