Oregon has recently raised the minimum wage for employees. Governor Brown signed into law an increase in Oregon minimum wage on March 2, 2016, and the law came into effect on July 1, 2016. According to the new Oregon minimum wage law, minimum wages vary according to the area of business operating within the state.
The employers that are situated within an urban growth margin of a specific metropolitan service district will receive a raise between $11.25 and $14.75. The employers that are situated in specific non-urban counties will get a raise in their minimum wage between $10.00 and $12.50. Some of the counties that are defined as nonurban include Coos, Crook, Baker, Wheeler, and Jefferson. Apart from this, employers in other geographic areas will obtain a raise between $10.25 and $13.50.
Furthermore, the minimum wage will rise consistently from the year 2023 for all the urban consumers since the U.S. City Average Consumer Price Index will increase. The employers in Oregon also have to abide by the federal minimum wage laws, according to which the minimum wage is $7.25.
Oregon Minimum Wage Exemptions
As per the Oregon minimum wage, there are some exemptions entitled to executives, administrators, professionals, outside salesmen, and computer employees. It exempts bona fide executive, administrative executive, and professional executive employees, along with computer systems analysts, software engineers, and computer programmers from the requirements of minimum wages.
In addition to these, Oregon minimum wage law exempts some other employees, too, including a few agricultural workers, livestock range producers and workers, child care service individuals, casual domestic workers, United States Government employees, primary or secondary education employees, taxicab operators, and emergency and occasional duty workers.
The Case of the Portland Winterhawks
The Portland Winterhawks have recently asked the lawmakers of Oregon to make one more exemption to its minimum wage laws. There is a pending lawsuit that aims to force the team to pay $11.25 per hour to its highest-profile performers who do not get salaries at all.
Most of these players are teenagers who play in the Western Hockey League for the Portland Winterhawks. Tim Bernasek, the attorney of Winterhawks, says that the Oregon law must have an exemption for amateur athletes. If it does not have this, then the team will have to either relocate or declare bankruptcy.
The lawmakers have taken this very seriously as they are already developing legislation for the Winterhawks for its short session in February this year. The team of Winterhawks has amateur players, including 15-year-old players. This is why the players are called amateurs and thus do not get the benefits of standard employment, including paychecks. Although this is beneficial for the team, it is certainly not for the players. Thus, the players ask for minimum wages since they are being employed.
Contact HKM Employment Attorneys LLP
If you think that your minimum wage rights are or have been violated, you may contact HKM Employment Attorneys at 503-389-1130. With careful planning and some understanding, you can get all the benefits from this law. HKM Employment Attorneys offer a Consultation.
