Workers in Cook County can anticipate a bit more cash in their pockets come July. The county's Commission on Human Rights has rolled out details about the upcoming increase in the county's minimum wage. Set to take effect on July 1, the hike bumps up pay to $14.05 per hour for non-tipped laborers, while tipped workers will continue earning $8.40 per hour.
The annual boost in the wage floor adheres to a formula established by the County's Minimum Wage Ordinance. This year's increment is pegged to the Consumer Price Index and prevented from exceeding a 2.5% cap, dodging the blow of spiking inflation. According to a notice from the Commission, the unemployment rate also plays a key role in these adjustments – should it climb above 8.5%, the formula goes out the window. This year, however, the unemployment rate stayed below that critical threshold.
Aiming to ensure fair wages, the ordinance blankets most workers clocking in two or more hours over any fortnight in the county. This includes those drawing a salary or working for tips, given that their employer has fours or more on the payroll, operates a business facility in the region or holds a Cook County business license. Domestic workers, regardless of their employer's size, also fall under this rule.
Underpaid workers aren't left high and dry. The county instructs individuals to first check with their local municipality for minimum wage laws and, if not exempt, they are empowered to lodge a complaint with the Cook County Commission on Human Rights. Resources and a procedure for filing grievances can be easily found on the Commission's website. Since its inception by the Cook County Board of Commissioners in late 2016, the ordinance has been a linchpin for combating wage stagnation in the face of climbing living costs.
