By Michele Moreno
The Ball Drop in Times Square ushered in more than a new year for New Yorkers – as of December 31, 2016, it also ushered in a higher minimum wage as legislation enacting a statewide $15 minimum wage plan and a 12-week paid family leave policy went into effect.

For non-tipped workers in New York City employed by a business with at least 11 employees, their minimum wage rose to $11.00 per hour. It will continue to rise another $2.00 each year until reaching $15.00 per hour on December 31, 2018.

For non-tipped workers in New York City employed by a business with 10 or fewer employees, their minimum wage rose to $10.50 per hour. It will continue to rise $1.50 each year until reaching $15.00 on December 31, 2019.

For non-tipped workers in Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester Counties, their minimum wage rose to $10.00. It will continue to rise $1.00 each year until reaching $15.00 on December 31, 2021.

For non-tipped workers in the rest of New York state, their minimum wage rose to $9.70. It will continue to rise .70 each year until reaching $12.50 on December 31, 2020, and will then continue to increase to $15.00 on an indexed scheduled to be set by the Director of the Division of Budget, in consultation with the Department of Labor.

For more information on New York’s #FightFor15, click here