The start of 2016 marks something that hasn’t happening in Rhode Island since 1996, tipped workers (bartenders, wait staff, waitresses, waiters and others) will see a minimum wage increase.
Beginning on January 1st, 2016; the minimum wage increased from $2.89 to $3.39, an increase of 50 cents per hours.
On January 1st, 2017; the minimum wage will increase from $3.39 to $3.89 for tipped workers’.
Gina Raimondo has estimate that approximately 51,000 Rhode Island workers will earn more with the increase.
Tipped Credit
Rhode Island allows employers to take a tip credit. Employers must pay tipped employees at least $3.39 an hour. If an employee doesn’t earn enough in tips to bring his or her total compensation up to at least the full state minimum wage rate an hour, the employer must make up the difference.
State Minimum Wage
Also, the state’s minimum wage will see an increase by 60 cents per hour on Friday, January 1st; from $9 to $9.60. Tipped workers will see an increase of 50 cents per hour, to $3.39, the first raise to tipped workers’ minimum wage in Rhode Island in 20 years.
The 2016 increase represents the eighth increase since Rhode Island implemented a State minimum wage in 1999.