TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) -- The minimum wage in the Sunshine State is expected to rise by a nickel an hour starting January first. Florida will boast an $8.10 minimum wage. That's the fifth smallest hourly increase since the state first established a standardized minimum wage in 2005.
Florida's minimum wage was established in a statute that requires the state to adjust the pay in order to align with the Consumer Price Index. The new hourly wage in Florida of $8.10 is still well above the federal average of $7.25 an hour.
This increase in pay is so small that after an eight our work day, employees will only see an extra forty cents an hour. After a typical work week, hourly employees will have two extra dollars in their pockets.
While a pay increase of any kid is good for the employee, customers may worry that they'll be paying a little more at the register to compensate. The local businesses WTXL spoke to Friday assured us that IF customers see a price increase that it will be very small.
"I think this is good that we're having a minimum wage increase, but it's not going to affect the average employee," say Gregory Cohen, the owner of Lofty Pursuits. He goes on to say, "While I'm sure they're going to appreciate that dollar, I don't think it's going to affect their net spending. It's still half a cup of coffee."
Cohen did say the his customers may see a small increase in prices due to the rising costs of sugar and milk needed to make the ice cream, but that has nothing to do with the wage increase.
The local business owners agreed that this pay increase is so small that it is not expected to raise prices at the register.
