FLORIDA MINIMUM WAGE WILL BE $13.00 AN HOUR STARTING SEPTEMBER 30TH

Under a 2020 amendment to the Florida Constitution, the Florida minimum wage automatically increases by $1 each September 30th until it reaches $15 an hour in 2026.

Starting September 30, 2024, the Florida minimum wage is increasing to $13 an hour. All non-tipped employees must be paid at least $13 an hour.

The hourly wage paid to tipped employees is also increasing by $1. Starting September 30, 2024, employers must pay tipped employees at least $9.98 an hour. This does not include tips. The cash wage of $9.98 an hour paid to a tipped employee is in addition to tips the employee receives from customers.

A tipped employee’s wage of $9.98 an hour plus the tips they receive during their shift must add up to at least the state minimum wage of $13. If not, the employer must make up the difference.  

Florida businesses are required to post a current Florida minimum wage poster, even if their employees are paid more than the minimum wage. We have mailed you a new Florida minimum wage poster with the hard copy of this newsletter. Please post it at your workplace where employees can see it.

Additional copies of this poster are free for FUBA members. You can print additional posters from the Publications sections of our website or you can request additional color copies by emailing us at FUBA@fuba.org.

AREN’T YOU GLAD YOU’RE A FUBA MEMBER? FREE MINIMUM WAGE POSTERS FOR FUBA MEMBERS

As explained above, the minimum wage that Florida businesses are required to pay employees changes every September. Every time the minimum wage changes, the state updates the mandatory minimum wage poster.

All businesses in Florida are required to post a Florida minimum wage poster at their workplace, even if all their employees are paid more than the minimum wage. FUBA provides this mandatory poster FREE to our members. 

One of the most valuable benefits of your company’s FUBA membership is this free subscription to the posters required to be posted at your workplace. The experts at FUBA monitor all workplace posters so you don’t have to. As long as you maintain your FUBA membership, you know your business is in compliance with the state and federal employment posting requirements. Not having to worry about these posters is just one of the many benefits of your FUBA membership!

IRS TAX FILING DEADLINES EXTENDED DUE TO HURRICANE DEBBY

The IRS is extending filing deadlines for individuals and businesses affected by Hurricane Debby in August. Individuals and businesses in the affected counties now have until February 3, 2025 to file tax returns whose original filing deadlines were from August 1, 2024 to February 3, 2025. 

The new February 3rd deadline applies to:

  • Individuals who had a valid extension until October 15th to file their 2023 tax return. Please note that taxes due are not eligible for this extension because extensions only apply to filing the actual return and not payment of taxes due.
  • Businesses with an original or extended due date, including partnerships and S corps whose 2023 extensions end September 16th and calendar year corporations whose 2023 extensions end October 15th.
  • Any other payment normally due during this period, including the quarterly payroll tax returns normally due in October 2024 and January 2025. 

The IRS automatically identifies taxpayers located in the disaster area and applies the new deadlines.  Affected taxpayers outside the covered disaster area can call the IRS disaster hotline at 866-562-5227 to request this tax relief.  

LOANS AVAILABLE FOR FLORIDA BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY HURRICANE DEBBY

Florida businesses impacted by Hurricane Debby in August can apply for assistance from the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan program. This program from the state of Florida provides short-term, no-interest loans of up to $50,000. Small businesses in need of assistance have until September 30th to apply. Call 833-832-4494 or visit FloridaJobs.org/EBL to learn more, view the lending guidelines and required documentation, and to file an application.

DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE

The state of Florida is accepting applications for Disaster Unemployment Assistance from Florida businesses and residents whose employment was lost or interrupted as a result of Hurricane Debby. Businesses damaged by Hurricane Debby and their employees can receive temporary financial assistance if the business is closed due to damage from the storm or if the business was not reachable due to flooding. Benefits are available for the following counties: Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Manatee, Sarasota, Suwannee, and Taylor. Applications are due by October 15th. To file a Disaster Unemployment claim, go to FloridaJobs.org or call 800-385-3920.

BAN ON NON-COMPETE AGREEMENTS WILL NOT GO INTO EFFECT

A new rule from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) banning non-compete agreements between employers and workers was supposed to take effect September 4th. The rule would have not only prohibited most non-competes but also would have required employers to notify all current and former workers with a non-compete that the agreement is no longer enforceable.

The rule was challenged in court by a group of employers in Texas, and the court ruled on August 20th that the rule is unenforceable. While this decision will also likely be appealed, for now the ban on noncompete agreements has been set aside and will not take effect September 4th.