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One to Keep An Eye On: Amendment 2 (Florida)

 

As with many employment and labor law related cases (and bills) being litigated around the country, there are always a few that stand out.  This is one to keep an eye on.


This coming November, voters in Florida will have the chance to vote on Amendment 2, which would raise the hourly minimum wage rate in the state to $15/hour by 2026.

If approved, Florida, which currently boasts an hourly wage rate of $8.56, would see the hourly wage rate rise to $10 on September 30, 2021 and increase by $1 every subsequent year until the state’s hourly wage rate reached $15.  As readers might have guessed, there are arguments on both sides of the ball with proponents saying a wage rate of $15/hour is necessary to pay for basic living expenses while opponents of Amendment 2 stipulate that the increase in labor costs would be detrimental to employers across the state.

While Amendment 2 needs at least 60% of voter approval to become law, with this being a Presidential election year, there will be a higher turnout of voters than usual which makes it a bit more difficult to predict the outcome of this ballot measure.  Nevertheless, I could certainly see this measure being approved, given the growing appetite for higher wages for hourly workers around the country.


For additional information:  https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2020/08/19/florida-amendment-2-raises-minimum-wage-15-dollars/3382768001/

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