Chicago and Denver Workers on Their Way to $15 Minimum Wage

Minimum-wage workers in Chicago and Denver are closer to earning US$15 an hour following legislation passed in these cities last week, Nation’s Restaurant News reports. 

The Chicago City Council approved an ordinance that will gradually increase minimum wage from $13 an hour to $15 by 2021. After 2021, the city’s minimum wage will be tied to the Consumer Price Index.

However, employers with fewer than 21 workers will have more time increase their minimum salary to $15, with increases to $13.50 by July 2020, $14 in July 2021, $14.50 in July 2022, and $15 in July 2023. The ordinance also offers a slower pay increase timetable for workers under age 18 in subsidized temporary youth employment programs—$10 an hour in 2020 with gradual increases until minimum wage reaches $15 in 2024.

Denver lawmakers approved a similar ordinance that will raise the minimum wage from $11.10 an hour to $15.87 by 2022. Minimum wage will increase to $12.85 on January 1, 2020, $14.47 in January 2021, and $15.87 by January 2022. Future increases to the Denver minimum wage also will be tied to the Consumer Price Index.

CMM offers employers strategies to offset increased labor expenses, such as using equipment that can lower costs by boosting productivity.