Amendment 2: Florida Voters Approve Ballot Initiative to Increase Minimum Wage
It was too close to call on election day, but Florida’s minimum wage ballot initiative ultimately received enough votes to pass…barely. Florida requires a 60 percent supermajority to amend its constitution. Amendment 2 received 60.82 percent of the votes cast. Despite being razor-thin, this margin is sufficient to amend Florida’ constitutional minimum wage requirements. So, what’s changing?
Amendment 2 increases Florida’s minimum wage incrementally over a period of years until it reaches $15 per hour. The first annual increase, which will be the largest, is scheduled to occur September 30, 2021. Each September 30th thereafter, it will increase by $1.00 until it reaches $15 per hour in 2026.
- January 1, 2021 $8.65
- September 30, 2021 $10.00 (+ $1.35)
- September 30, 2022 $11.00
- September 30, 2023 $12.00
- September 30, 2024 $13.00
- September 30, 2025 $14.00
- September 30, 2026 $15.00
Annual adjustments for inflation, which have taken place since 2005, are scheduled to resume September 30, 2027. Florida’s constitutional minimum wage requirements remain otherwise unchanged by Amendment 2. Employers, for example, are still prohibited from discriminating or retaliating against employees for exercising their constitutional minimum wage rights. They can still be sued by employees and Florida’s Attorney General for violating these rights. These lawsuits are still expensive.
To reduce the likelihood of costly mistakes, employers should provide wage and hour training to managers and supervisors. Employers should also carry Employment Practices Liability Insurance with limited coverage for wage and hour claims. Contact us to learn more about protecting your business with Employment Practices Liability Insurance.
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