What are the employer’s responsibilities for paying minimum wage?

In Massachusetts, employers are responsible for ensuring that all employees are paid no less than the state minimum wage rate. Employees must be paid a minimum of $12.75 per hour, as of January 2021, for standard hours worked. Employers must also pay employees the greater of either the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour or the state rate of $12.75. Employers may provide an additional $3.75 tip credit if employees regularly receive tips, bringing the minimum hourly rate to $9.00 for tipped employees. In Massachusetts, employers are also required to pay their employees overtime wages for any hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Overtime wages must be at least time-and-a-half the employee’s regular rate of pay. Employers must also provide employees with the opportunity to take unpaid breaks throughout the day, depending on the length of their work shift. Specifically, employees must be provided with a 20-minute break if their shift is a minimum of 6 hours in length and two 15-minute breaks if their shift is a minimum of 8 hours in length. Finally, employers must also keep accurate records of each employee’s hours worked and wages paid, which must be kept for a minimum of 3 years. This record-keeping requirement is necessary in order to ensure that employers are in compliance with the state’s wage and hour laws. By understanding their obligations under the Massachusetts wage and hour laws, employers can help ensure that all of their employees receive fair and legal wages for their work.

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What are the employer’s responsibilities for paying minimum wage?

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