Are there any exceptions to minimum wage laws?
Yes, there are exceptions to minimum wage laws in the state of Florida. Minimum wage laws set the legal minimum that employers must pay their employees, but certain employees may be exempt from the minimum wage. The most common exceptions include tipped employees, such as waiters or bartenders, youth under the age of 18, and certain types of agricultural workers. Tipped employees are not required to earn the full minimum wage, as they are likely to receive tips from their customers that may ultimately bring their wages above the state-mandated minimum. In Florida, employers may pay a lower wage for employees that are tipped, equal to half the state minimum wage before tips, which is currently $5.63. There are also exceptions for young workers. Employees under the age of 18 are not required to earn the full minimum wage, as long as they are not working in hazardous jobs. In Florida, this means that employees under the age of 18 may be paid 85% of the minimum wage, which is currently $5.02 per hour. Finally, agricultural workers may also be paid a lower wage than the regular minimum wage, as long as the employer follows all the other rules and regulations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). For example, farmworkers who are paid piece-rate or on commission are not eligible for the minimum wage, but the total compensation they receive must still meet or exceed the state minimum wage.
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