New Jersey 2024 Minimum Wage Increase Doesn’t Apply to Everyone
As we begin the new year, there are many changes that we hope to make to better ourselves and our lives. Maybe you’re hoping to drop some pounds, increase your…
EAST WINDSOR, NEW JERSEY: A customer gets a manicure at Anthony Vincent Salon in Central Jersey.
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)As we begin the new year, there are many changes that we hope to make to better ourselves and our lives. Maybe you’re hoping to drop some pounds, increase your income, or find love. All of these ideas are great to improve one’s self, and increase happiness. Hopefully, the new laws that go into effect this year will help you reach some of these goals.
It’s 2024, and with a new year come new laws that go into effect across the country specifically in New Jersey. I decided I would take a look at one of the new laws to determine if it would make a difference in the lives of my family, friends, or neighbors.
Minimum Wage Increase Breakdown
According to NJ.gov and the Department of Labor & Workforce Development, the minimum wage in New Jersey has increased to $15.13 an hour as of January 1st. However, this does not apply to everyone.
For example, there are almost 2 million hourly workers in New Jersey, and this will only benefit around 350 thousand of them, according to the website.
Also, if you’re a seasonal worker or work at a company with six or fewer employees, you won’t reach $15 an hour until 2026.
What about farm workers? If you’re up when the rooster crows, you’ll still be more than two dollars below the $15 hourly amount.
Almost $10 Less for Tipped Workers
Tipped workers are still way below that amount, and it’s a little confusing. If you’re a waiter or waitress, hairdresser, or another professional where you rely on tips, your hourly wage in 2024 will be $5.26. The website says, “If the minimum cash wage plus an employee’s tips do not equal at least the state minimum wage, the employer must pay the employee the difference.”
There’s another rule that seems to be very hard to enforce. The law states that if you’re a tipped worker and you spend more than 20% of your workday on tasks that you don’t get tipped for, then your employer has to pay you the $15.13 minimum wage during that time.
New Jersey Is The Best State For Working From Home
If you needed another reason as to why working from is beneficial on all fronts, here you go. WalletHub's latest study ranks New Jersey as the best state for working from home.
The personal finance website compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 12 key metrics including average home square footage, internet access, and more. Together, these metrics show how feasible working from home is in terms of cost, comfort and safety.
“New Jersey is the best state for working from home due in part to the fact that the state provides a comfortable and affordable environment for working remotely, with nearly 97 percent of households having internet speeds above 25Mbps. In addition, New Jersey has the second best access to low-priced internet plans in the country” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst in a press release. “Plus, New Jersey has one of the highest percentages of people who could potentially work from home, so many workers can take advantage of these good remote work conditions.”
The top 20 best states for working from home by WalletHub:
1.
New Jersey
2.
District of Columbia
3.
Delaware
4.
Connecticut
5.
Massachusetts
6.
Utah
7.
Texas
8.
Washington
9.
Maryland
10.
New York
11.
Tennessee
12.
Georgia
13.
Virginia
14.
Arizona
15.
Nevada
16.
California
17.
North Carolina
18.
Florida
19.
Rhode Island
20.
Ohio
