New York employers are reminded that the hourly minimum wage and wage credits, as well as the minimum weekly salary required for employees to qualify for the professional, executive and administrative exemptions are increasing effective December 31, 2014.

• The basic minimum hourly wage increases from $8 per hour to $8.75.
• The minimum weekly salary requirement for employees to qualify for the professional, executive and/or administrative exemptions increases from $600 to $656.25.
• The minimum wage that must be paid to tipped food service workers remains at $5 per hour so long as the employee receives $3.75 per hour in tips.
• The minimum wage that must be paid to tipped service employees remains at $5.65 per hour so long as the employee receives $3.10 per hour in tips.
• For employers who require employees to launder their uniforms, the weekly uniform maintenance rate per week (for employees who work over 30 hours per week) increases from $9.95 to $10.90.
• Meal credits remain at $2.50 per meal.

These increases relate to the New York State Labor Law. An additional Alert should be anticipated when the new regulations under the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act are released in 2015. These regulations will likely increase the minimum weekly salary requirement for exempt employees above the current $455.

Employers are also reminded that simply paying a salary does not, alone, render an employee exempt from the minimum wage and overtime law. The exemption will only apply if the employee meets the criteria required for the particular exemption.