As of January 1, 2014, the minimum wage in Rhode Island will jump $0.25 to $8.00 per hour. This is the second time in as many years that the General Assembly has voted to raise the minimum wage. The last increase occurred in January 2013, when the rate went from $7.40 to $7.75 per hour. The hike is viewed by some as a compromise measure for legislation that will allow employers to pay their employees bi-monthly as opposed to weekly.
Note: This article was published in the August 2013 issue of the Rhode Island eAuthority.