Increase of the Arkansas Minimum Wage (2015)
Overview
On November 4, 2014 Arkansas voters approved an increase to the state’s minimum wage. The minimum wage increase is as follows:
$7.50 per hour effective January 1, 2015;
$8.00 per houreffective January 1, 2016;
and
$8.50 per hour effective January 1, 2017.
Currently, state minimum wage is $6.25 per hour
and federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.
Coverage
The Arkansas Minimum Wage Act covers employers with 4 or more employees
Employers
covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) are also covered by the Arkansas law if
they have 4 or more employees. An employer covered by both laws must pay the highest
minimum wage.
The Arkansas Minimum Wage Actexempts some employees from both the minimum wage
requirement and from the overtime pay requirement. Some employees are exempt only from
the overtime pay requirement.
Tipped Employees
The state tip credit did not change, so tipped employees must still be paid
a minimum of $2.63 per hour and tips must be sufficient to raise the employee to the
applicable minimum wage rate.
Poster
The required poster has been revised and is available online here.
Recordkeeping
Recordkeeping requirements have not changed.