Massachusetts Minimum Wage Will Increase to $15/hour on January 1, 2023

December 8, 2022

The new year will once again bring an increase to the minimum wage in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Effective January 1, 2023, the minimum wage will rise to $15.00. With this increase, the minimum wage will reach the $15.00/hour goal established by state legislature in 2018. This represents a seventy-five-cent increase from this past year’s rate of $14.25 and a $1.50 increase from 2021’s wage of $13.50.

 

The minimum wage for tipped workers will increase to $6.75 in January of 2023, up from $6.15 this past year. A tipped employee is anyone who makes more than $20 a month in tips. These workers must receive at least the overall minimum wage when combining tips and wages. Also of note, Sunday premium pay, and holiday pay will be eliminated as of January 1, 2023.

 

Many businesses have begun to raise their own minimum wages beyond what is required. For example, Bank of America raised their minimum wage to $22.00 an hour effective as of the end of June 2022.  The increase may be cause for concern for many businesses as the financial effects of COVID-19 continue to be felt.

 

The minimum wage in Connecticut recently increased to $14.00, effective July 1, 2022.

 

The minimum wage in Vermont will increase to $13.18, effective January 1, 2023, up from $12.55 in 2022.

 

The minimum wage in Rhode Island will increase to $13.00, effective January 1, 2023, up from $12.25 in 2022.

 

The minimum wage in New Hampshire is currently $7.25, mirroring the federal minimum.

 

If you have questions about the minimum wage increase, or any other general employment issues, please do not hesitate to contact the attorneys at The Royal Law Firm at 413-586-2288.

April 21, 2025
Friday April 18th: Amy Royal, Fred Royal, and Derek Brown attended the Springfield Thunderbirds playoff game! They enjoyed watching the Thunderbirds play the Charlotte Checkers from the Executive Perch.
April 18, 2025
Employee's Wage Act Claim Case Overview : In Turgut v. Hitachi Rail STS USA, Inc., Plaintiff filed a putative class action against a company, Defendant, alleging violation of the Wage Act by not paying wages within six days of the pay period's end. Defendant argued that its employees fell under the exception that allowed seven days for payment; however that exception only applies to hourly workers that work all seven days of a work week. The plaintiff is looking to represent a class of employees that received W-2 wages in what he alleges was in an untimely manner. The case was originally filed in state court on February 20, 2025 but was moved to federal court. Reason for Treble Damages: Under Rueter v. City of Methuen, the seminal case regarding the Massachusetts Wage Act (“Wage Act”), the proper measure of damages under the Wage Act is treble damages. Previously employees were only entitled to interest on the unpaid wages if the company paid before proceedings started. It kept noncompliance from being as costly as it is now. Currently any violation can be subjected to treble damages for the total amount of the alleged late payment. It’s expected that we will see more cases pick up by attorneys because the treble damages make it worthwhile for their clients as well as themselves, given this recent ruling. Judge's Ruling : The Judge ruled that the six-day deadline applies. The Judge stated that while the complaint didn’t make it clear if plaintiff is hourly or salary, plaintiff only worked five days a week, meaning that the seven-day exception did not apply as the Wage Act was written. Legal Implications Legislative History : The Wage Act provides different deadlines for an employee’s final pay based on the number of days worked in a week. This case also emphasizes that having salaried workers on staff does not fulfill the requirement of having employees work seven days a week. Significance of One Day : The judge emphasized that even a single day's delay in payment can significantly impact employees living paycheck to paycheck. What Employers need to know Make sure you’re aware of your employees’ pay cycle and make compliance a company priority. It’s more cost effective to pay a day or two earlier than it is to head to court over claims of violations. This ruling expands on the Reuter ruling by clarifying the Wage Act rules in relation to hourly employees. If an hourly employee resigns, ensure that automatic payment systems (as well as the employer’s own internal pay systems) are aligned with the requirements of this ruling. If your business has any questions on this topic or any other matters, please do not hesitate to contact the attorneys at The Royal Law Firm at 413-586-2288.