Maine Governor Says He Won't Punish Employers Who Ignore New Minimum Wage Hike (For Now)

[DonViejo]

by David Bixenspan | 6:05 pm, December 26th, 2016

In a story that flew under the radar nationally, Maine’s new minimum wage is quickly becoming a very contentious issue. A couple weeks back, Governor Paul LePage’s state Department of Labor announced that violations of some of the rules (like those concerning restaurant waitstaff) would not be punished for the first few weeks the law is implemented. However, businesses “are expected to follow the law and pay the minimum hourly wage of $9.” Critics of LePage have gone so far as to call the announcement a license to commit “wage theft.”

LePage’s announcement specifically states:

From Jan. 7, 2017, when the new minimum wage law is scheduled to go into effect, and until Jan. 31, 2017, the department will not bring enforcement actions against any employer who fails to comply with the change in the tip credit or the minimum salary requirement for overtime-exempt workers. Employers are expected to follow the law and pay the minimum hourly wage of $9.

The minimum wage increase was a state ballot initiative. It was approved by voters by a margin of more than 10 points, so it’s only natural that his announcement has been met with a good bit of opposition.

more
http://lawnewz.com/important/maine-governor-says-he-wont-punish-employers-who-ignore-new-minimum-wage-hike-for-now/

[Scurrilous]

1. K & R

[PatsFan87]

2. Only 2 more years of embarrassment having this fool as my governor.

Luckily we have ranked choice voting now in case of another split vote.

[kimbutgar]

3. Someone should point out those businesses who don't comply

So they get some loss of business financial pressure.