Minimum Wage to Increase for City of Atlanta Employees

Recently Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed announced that the City of Atlanta will be increasing the minimum wage paid to city employees to $15/hour. This increase is a positive step in providing a livable wage to city employees. Studies have shown that increasing minimum wage also has a positive impact on local economies, with workers putting the extra income toward necessities, such as food, clothing and shelter, which in turn bolsters the local stream of commerce.

Unfortunately, the minimum wage for most Georgia workers remains $7.25/hour. As more and more states and municipalities around the country adopt a higher minimum wage, hopefully Georgia will follow suit.

What do I do if my employer doesn’t pay me at least minimum wage?

Federal law, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), provides that all workers must be paid at least minimum wage. If you do not receive at least minimum wage, you may be able to file lawsuit for back wages and other damages. Often, violations occur when employers require workers to work “off the clock” or otherwise fail to compensate workers for all time spent on the job. Further, some occupations – such as waiter/waitressing – that rely on tips have very specific rules regarding tip sharing. The failure to follow these laws may lead to minimum wage violations.

If you believe that you have not been paid at least minimum wage, please contact the experienced Atlanta minimum wage lawyers at Buckley Bala Wilson Mew LLP for an immediate case evaluation.