Timothy O'Connell Discusses Lessons for California Businesses from Seattle Minimum Wage Hike

Partner Timothy O’Connell authored an article for the Perspective section of the Los Angeles Daily Journal titled “Lessons for California’s minimum wage proposal.” In the article, O’Connell discusses aspects of the recent increase in the minimum wage in Seattle and their implications in California, where efforts to also raise the minimum wage are underway at the  state and local level. In particular, he addresses his comments to business owners in Southern California, where Los Angeles officials are considering raising the minimum wage to $15.37 an hour for workers at large hotels.

O’Connell addresses many aspects of the change made in Seattle: what the city did; which employees are covered; what the city minimum wage is currently at and how the increases will be phased in, including the differences for companies of more or fewer than 500 employees; the effects on teenagers or other new workers; Seattle businesses’ reactions to the ordinance; and other possible pitfalls for the city.