9.28.21 Advocacy Alert: NYS To Raise Minimum Wage
Blog Categories
September 28, 2021
The New York State Department of Labor announced a forthcoming increase in the minimum wage across upstate New York.
On December 31, the minimum wage in our region will rise to $13.20 per hour, a 70-cent increase from the current rate.
As part of the 2016 state budget, the Legislature approved a gradual minimum wage increase through 2020. For 2021 and beyond, the Legislature outsourced this authority to the Department of Labor and Division of Budget, who are now authorized to raise the minimum annually, up to $15/hour. The enacting bill passed 61-1 in the Senate and 104-34 in the Assembly.
The Division of Budget prepares a report on economic conditions, which informs the new minimum wage rate. In the report, DOB recommends that our region’s “minimum wage rise annually by the sum of the annual growth rates for the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers and labor productivity.”
Minimum wages around the state. Source: NYSDOL.
In the BNP’s annual Member Survey, taken last week, 45% of employers responded that they may be forced to raise wages to weather the current labor shortages. This demonstrates that employers are responding to market conditions and are raising wages accordingly, without government mandate.
Related Posts
NY’s Tax Climate Again Ranks at National Bottom
Today, the Tax Foundation (an independent tax policy think tank) released its 2022 State Business Tax Climate Index. The report compares all fifty states on various tax policies, then ranks their overall business tax climate. New York ranked below every state except New Jersey.
NY’s rank in the State Business Tax Climate Index
The poor ranking comes as no surprise. New York has oscillated between 48-50 for over ten years. After enacting new tax increases this year, New York dropped from 48th to 49th.
12.13.21 COVID-19 Bulletin: Statewide Mask Mandate Now in Effect
Yesterday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced she would repeal the state’s mask mandate, effective today. However, her announcement did not proactively address how the repeal coincided with the NY HERO Act, which would have required employees in most workplaces to continue masking.
12.2.21 Advocacy Alert: BNP Urges Hochul to Maximize Infrastructure Investment
The BNP recently wrote to Governor Kathy Hochul suggesting steps she can take to maximize the incoming infrastructure investment from Washington.
President Biden recently signed into law the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The BNP advocated for this bill, which has the potential for transformative change in Buffalo Niagara. However, in our current landscape, this historic investment may not go as far in New York as it will in other states.
12.10.21 COVID-19 Bulletin: Hochul Imposes Statewide Mask Mandate
Yesterday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced she would repeal the state’s mask mandate, effective today. However, her announcement did not proactively address how the repeal coincided with the NY HERO Act, which would have required employees in most workplaces to continue masking.