American Association of People with Disabilities’ Post

North Carolina law allows for subminimum wage - employers are allowed to pay a person who has a disability below the current minimum wage (in NC that is $7.25 per hour). Employers are not generally allowed to pay less that 50% of minimum wage ($3.625 per hour) but may be able to pay even less if the person has multiple disabilities or has severe disabilities. How many of you could live on $7,540 per year? It is time for a change! https://lnkd.in/eNPXsWje

Subminimum Wage in SC Ends Today! Today we celebrate The Employment First Initiative Act & ending subminimum wage in South Carolina! In May of 2022 South Carolina's Governor signed the bill eliminating subminimum wage following years of grassroots advocacy by Able SC and partners. Our state became the third state in the Southeast and the thirteenth in the nation to pass legislation, breaking from federal law that permits the practice. Since that time subminimum wages have been phased out, officially ending today, August 1, 2024. Learn more about this historic moment and get the resources job seekers, employers, service providers, and families need: https://lnkd.in/eVq5j3ej [Reads, 'Subminimum wage ends today. Today we celebrate The Employment First Initiative Act & ending subminimum wage in South Carolina!' This is followed by 5 photos of disabled people in work settings; a white developmentally disabled man in a hard hat, a woman with light skin and developmental disability in an industrial kitchen, a Black woman in a wheelchair on a sidewalk, a developmentally disabled man with light skin and beard in a greenhouse, a man of Asian descent with Down syndrome working with papers at a desk with a non-disabled coworker.]

Lillie Heigl, and a few of her incredibly talented colleagues, spent the better part of the last year researching, writing, editing, re-writing, etc. a comprehensive report focused on the subminimum wage across all 50 states. Today, that report was FINALLY published! If you didn't already know, the subminimum wage is a rate of pay less than the minimum wage (oftentimes as little as pennies per hour) that employers are legally allowed to pay employees based on their perceived level of productivity. The authority for this is found in Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is almost exclusively used to pay unfair wages to employees with disabilities. While some states have taken active steps to reduce or eliminate this practice, many either continue to adhere to this practice or are waiting on Federal legislative efforts to do away with this entirely. This is a well-written, well-researched, interesting and informative report. Everyone should give this a read! #SubminimumWage #DisabilityRights #GoodJobs #WorkersRights

From Shruti Rajkumar at HuffPost- "Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) signed a bill on that aims to eliminate subminimum wages for disabled employees in the state. In the U.S., employees are paid a minimum wage ranging from $7.25 to $15 per hour, depending on the state. Many activists have pushed to raise the minimum wage. But under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, companies and businesses can apply for 14(c) certificates that allow them to pay disabled employees well below that number, with many earning less than $3.50 an hour. Kansas’ Senate Bill 15 aims to create more employment opportunities for disabled workers in Kansas and incentivize employers to move away from paying them below the minimum wage by using a matching grant program and expanded income tax credit eligibility." #AccessibilityInTheNews https://lnkd.in/g5J994Ty

CARRBORO, NC – As we wrap up the Labor Day holiday week, the Town of Carrboro, a living wage-certified employer, continues to celebrate Labor Day as Living Wage Day and encourages all residents to celebrate workers and support businesses that pay their workers a living wage. As proclaimed by Mayor Barbara Foushee, Living Wage Day highlights the importance of a living wage within our community. Chronic poverty is one of the greatest challenges to sustainable, diverse and healthy communities. The current living wage in Orange County is $17.65 per hour, more than double the state and federal minimum, but many workers make less than the living wage and are living in poverty despite having full-time employment.  Orange County Living Wage promotes a roster of more than 275 employers to help build a base of engaged, informed customers who support living wage-certified businesses and nonprofits. Employers who pay their workers a living wage report experiencing substantially less turnover, better job performance and higher level of positive customer engagement. Workers with higher incomes can afford to live and play in Orange County and spend money locally. Learn more about Orange County Living Wage https://lnkd.in/eM-8eF9 Read the full proclamation https://lnkd.in/gXUnAdPg ###

National Minimum Wage (NMW) specialists are closely watching tomorrow’s King’s speech, where Employment Rights are expected to take center stage. Significant changes for workers’ rights are anticipated, including: A Genuine Living Wage: The new government has committed to transforming the national minimum wage into a “genuine living wage.” This means that the Low Pay Commission will consider the cost of living alongside median wages and economic conditions. Equalizing Age Groups: Currently, the NMW varies based on age, with a maximum of £11.44 for those aged 21 and over. However, Labour aims to equalize rates across all age groups. Under-18s earning £6.40 per hour would receive the same as those aged 21 and above. Creation of a Worker Rights Agency: The groundwork for this was initially proposed in 2017 by Matthew Taylor as part of the “Good Work Plan”. Prior to the pandemic the Conservative Government intended to establish a new single enforcement body for employment rights, including: - National Minimum Wage compliance - Gangmasters Licensing and Employment Agency Standards. - Enforcement powers regarding Statutory Sick Pay and Holiday Pay rules - Control and transparency requirements in supply chains / modern slavery statement reporting. Given Labours drive to significantly increase workers rights it will be interesting to see their vision for a new single enforcement agency, including the proposed remit, enforcement powers and the budget allocated to a new agency. Contact Jeni.morris@uk.ey.com Gary Henderson #NMW #workersrights #minimumwage #ukemplaw

**Eliminating Subminimum Wage: A Path to Fair Pay in New York** The debate over subminimum wage in New York is heating up, and advocates are pushing for its elimination. Subminimum wage, often paid to tipped employees and workers with disabilities, has significant drawbacks. Here's a breakdown of the key points: 1. **Financial Instability**: Workers on subminimum wage struggle to make ends meet, creating a cycle of poverty. 2. **Disparity and Inequality**: This wage structure disproportionately affects women and people of color. 3. **Dependence on Tips**: Tipped employees face financial uncertainty, as their income depends on variable customer tips. 4. **Underpayment of Disabled Workers**: Workers with disabilities are often paid below minimum wage, limiting their financial freedom. 5. **Poor Retention and Morale**: Low wages result in high employee turnover and reduced job satisfaction. Eliminating subminimum wage would have several benefits: 1. **Livable Wages**: Providing at least the minimum wage would ensure financial stability and support local economies. 2. **Enhanced Financial Planning**: A consistent paycheck allows for better financial planning and future investments. 3. **Workplace Equality**: Removing subminimum wage can help reduce wage disparities and promote fairness, especially for marginalized groups. 4. **Improved Retention**: Higher wages are linked to greater job satisfaction and employee retention. 5. **Boost to Local Economies**: Increased disposable income leads to more spending in local communities, driving economic growth. **Next Steps:** 1. **Legislative Action**: Collaboration with lawmakers to phase out subminimum wages. 2. **Business Support**: Demonstrating the long-term benefits of higher wages to employers. 3. **Public Awareness**: Building public support by highlighting the system's disadvantages. 4. **Transition Programs**: Assisting businesses and workers during the transition period. 5. **Monitoring and Adjustment**: Regular monitoring and adjustments to ensure the effectiveness of new wage policies. Eliminating subminimum wage is not just a moral imperative but also a practical one. It will create a fairer, more resilient workforce in New York. For more insights on tax savings, set up a call with Together CFO using this **[link](https://lnkd.in/gAa4dwUG.

The recent announcement of an increase in the national minimum wage and living wage has sparked both hope and skepticism among workers and advocates alike. While the rise signifies progress towards fairer compensation for low-income earners, critics warn that it may not go far enough to address the challenges of living costs and income inequality. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3Ua95Zq #PeopleManagement #MinimumWage #LivingWage #EmploymentLaw

Shocking statistics highlighted by Living Wage Foundation released by Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), last week reported that 1 in 5 people in the UK were living in poverty* – that’s 14.4 million people. Perhaps even more alarming is that 64% of those working age adults reside in households where at least one person worked. In an industry where low pay can be considered the norm, GreenZone Cleaning Services have always stood proud, opting to do better for our employees. For the past decade, we have been at the forefront of the Living Wage Movement as one of the first Living Wage Recognised Service Providers - a testament to our unwavering commitment to fair pay practices. Why We Do It: Our steadfast belief in fair pay for everyone isn't just a principle; it's a driving force that is integral in our collaboration with clients. This commitment not only aligns with the Living Wage Foundation, but also pays back in a loyal, productive workforce who deliver their jobs with stability, enthusiasm and pride. #WhyWeDoIt #LivingWageFoundation #GreenZone #FairPay *Source: https://lnkd.in/eAg7mDi2

This month, 200 human services workers turned out to Albany to demand #JustPay! Our advocacy got us a 3.2% COLA for State-contracted human services workers in the one-house budgets - a major win. However, the budgets were missing Wage Board Legislation, which would help achieve pay parity between government human services workers and nonprofit human services workers - who make 30% less than government workers for the same work. This legislation would establish a Human Services Wage Board to investigate these pay disparities and produce a report with recommendations on salaries and benefits of human services workers, which will be given to the Governor and Legislature. There’s still time to make your voices heard. Sign up for the #JustPay Social Work Week of Action to call State leaders TODAY and demand Wage Board Legislation in the final budget: https://lnkd.in/eQTm5_bE @govkathyhochul @andreastewartcousins @cheastie @hscny