Today the Los Angeles City Council approved an increase in city's minimum wage to $15 by 2020. The council’s plan will now be submitted to the city attorney’s office, which will draft an ordinance that will return to council members later this year for approval. After that, the wage increase would be signed into law by the mayor, with the first wage boost taking effect in July 2016.
HOW MUCH WOULD WAGES INCREASE?
The city's minimum wage to be $15 per hour by July 1, 2020. Wages would gradually increase beginning next year:
July 1, 2016: $10.50
July 1, 2017: $12.00
July 1, 2018: $13.25
July 1, 2019: $14.25
July 1, 2020: $15
I'M A SMALL-BUSINESS OWNER. WILL I HAVE TO INCREASE WAGES FOR MY EMPLOYEES?
Yes, though businesses with 25 or fewer employees will have an additional year to comply with the wage increase.
ARE NONPROFITS INCLUDED IN THIS PROPOSAL?
Nonprofits are included in the proposal but representatives can apply for a waiver if they meet a set of criteria. Only those nonprofits where the top executive earns less than eight times the wage of the lowest-paid employee may apply for a waiver. Also, they must have transitional employees or be primarily funded by state or federal reimbursements.
I AM A WAITER WHO RECEIVES TIPS AS PART OF MY JOB. WILL MY HOURLY WAGES CHANGE?
Yes. In California, tipped employees cannot make less than minimum wage. The wage proposal would not exempt tipped employees from the new wage structure.
IF WAGES INCREASE, WILL I GET PAID SICK LEAVE OR VACATION DAYS?
Maybe. During a committee debate last week, Councilman Curren Price said he wants the ordinance to have a leave policy that mirrors the one already included in L.A.'s living wage ordinance. That provides city contractors with 12 compensated days if they are ill or on vacation. However, Council members agreed Tuesday to place a paid time off policy on a separate track for legislative review.
WHAT HAPPENS TO WAGES AFTER 2020?
Beginning in 2022, Los Angeles' minimum wage would continue to increase annually based on the Consumer Price Index averaged over the previous 20 years.
More information about today's City Council vote
L.A. City Council approves increase in city's minimum wage to $15 by 2020 [L.A. Times]
City Council Files