[California] Minimum wage increase for Palo Alto

From January 1, 2021, the legal minimum wage rate for the City of Palo Alto is $15.65 per hour and employers must make efforts to share this information with employees, The City of Palo Alto reports.

On September 26, 2016, Palo Alto’s Council approved an increase to the 2016 minimum wage of $11 per hour to $12 per hour from January 1, 2017, $13.50 per hour from January 1, 2018, and $15 per hour from January 1, 2019. Effective from January 1, 2020, the minimum wage is $15.40.

The minimum wage requirement set forth in Palo Alto’s Minimum Wage Ordinance applies to all employees who work two hours per week within Palo Alto. Each year after 2019 the City will adjust the minimum wage based on the US.Department of Labor’s Regional Consumer Price Index.

Palo Alto minimum wage ordinance basics

From January 1, 2021, the 2021 minimum wage rate is $15.65 per hour. The minimum wage rate is adjusted each January. Covered employers must pay the hourly minimum wage rate to each employee who performs two hours or more of work per week in Palo Alto.

Covered Employer Responsibilities Include:

* Post official Palo Alto Wage Bulletin in the workplace informing employees of the current minimum wage rate and their rights.

* Document all hours worked by employees and keep records for four years.

* It is unlawful to discriminate in any manner or take adverse action against any person in retaliation for exercising their rights protected under the Ordinance.

* Provide each employee at time of hire with employer’s name, address and telephone number.

Employers must post the 2021 Official Minimum Wage Employer Posters and Employee Know Your Rights posters where information is accessible by employees.

The posters can be downloaded here:  Poster in English