How will your organization be affected by a local minimum wage? (November 2022 Update)

How Will Your Organization Be Affected By A Local Minimum Wage?
The Fort Collins City Council is continuing the process of establishing a local minimum wage (LMW) that potentially impacts every employer operating within the city.
City Council will consider, on Tuesday, November 15, three options regarding the implementation of LMW..
Option 1: Goal of $19/hour
2023 – $13.65 (estimated Colorado Minimum Wage based on inflation)
2024 – $15.15
2025 – $16.90
2026 – $18.50
2027 – Plus CPI (Consumer Price Index; min. 2%, max. 5%)
Option 2: Goal of $16.65
2023 – $13.65 (estimated Colorado Minimum Wage based on inflation)
2024 – $14.65
2025 – $15.65
2026 – $16.65
2027 – Plus CPI
Option 3: Postpone Indefinitely
Tipped employees and unemancipated minors may be allowed to receive a lower wage under specific conditions (CDLE Resource), though any and all employees that work at least 4 hours per week within the city limits of Fort Collins will be covered by the ordinance regardless of employer type or home office location.
Nonprofit organizations, Poudre School District, Colorado State University, home-based businesses, national chains and locally owned small businesses of all variety are affected. In fact, the City itself will be impacted to the tune of $3M or more when accounting for wage compression.
Council needs to hear from you today! They need to understand the full impact of unintended consequences that will be felt by employers and employees alike.
There are far too many unanswered questions with very real consequences. Let’s go with Option 3 until we all have a better understanding of the problem we’re all trying to solve.
Click here to make your voice heard.
Talking Points
  • This decision has very real consequences to my organization that I have not yet had time to understand. Why hasn’t my voice been heard in this discussion?
  • The affects of the pandemic and stimulus response have drastically changed the relationship between me and my employees, this will create even greater divisions.
  • The State Legislature has mandated new costs and responsibilities on my organization. Implementing a local minimum wage that has not been substantiated by good data feels like I’m being punished for offering good jobs at appropriate wages for my industry.
  • My organization does not have the luxury of raising prices to account for increased personnel costs. Our contracts/grant support is locked in. [I will lose customers that are already stretched by inflation]
  • I have employees that will either need to reduce their hours or stop working all together to avoid losing public benefits that exceed the increase on their paycheck. This means I will need to find another qualified employee in a very tight labor market.
  • Minimum wage is not a substitute for a so called ‘living wage’. Employers cannot be held accountable for all the influences on the cost of living. I don’t control housing costs, I don’t control transportation costs, or where my employees live and with whom they choose to live.
  • What is the driving force behind moving this process along so quickly without talking to more than a few employers? I am an employer, but I’m also a member of this community. Let’s sit down and talk about how we can solve problems together.

Source: Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce
November 2022

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