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Breaking: Washington D.C. to Raise Minimum Wage Rate to $15/Hour


Yesterday, it was announced that lawmakers in the District of Columbia had unanimously approved a measure to raise the minimum wage in the District from the current hourly wage rate of $10.50 to $15.00 by 2020.  Note, this increase will impact approximately 77,000 hourly workers in he District.  While the hourly wage rate was already set to go to $11.50 this July, this approved measure will raise the hourly wage rate by about $.70 over the next few years.  As with other states and cities that have approved minimum wage hikes, once the hourly wage rate hits $15/hour in 2020, further increases will be automatic and tied to inflation.  

It goes without saying that is a huge development on the minimum wage front.  After both New York and California approved $15/hour wage rates across both states earlier this year, Washington D.C. jumps in as one of the 'leaders' at the forefront of this issue.

Although, note, that for tipped workers, the hourly wage rate will only go up to $5/hour from the current rate of $2.77/hour for the same period as non-tipped workers.  As before, employers will be responsible for making up the difference if a tipped employee's base pay doesn't not meet the minimum wage rate.  Unsurprisingly, some on the members of the D.C. Council expressed regret that there will remain two tiers of hourly pay.  However, I question whether a flat $15/hour wage rate for ALL workers would have had enough support to pass.  Something tells me the answer is a resounding 'no'.



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