South San Francisco, CA January 8, 2021 h/t Angelique Presidente
What’s New
The State of California enacted a minimum wage that will reach $15 per hour for all employees by January 1, 2023. The City Council approved a new local minimum wage ordinance to help assist low wage earners with the high cost of living in the City of South San Francisco. The City’s approach seeks to move quicker than the State’s minimum wage, reaching $15 by 2020, after gaining extensive input from local businesses over the last year.
On January 1, 2021, the City of South San Francisco’s Minimum Wage was adjusted by the 2020 Consumer Price Index (1.6%) and increased to $15.24 per hour.
This new law applies to all businesses within the geographic boundaries of South San Francisco and any employee working at least two or more hours per week.
Local Minimum Wage Implementation Timeline
| Effective Date | Local Minimum Wage |
| January 1, 2020 | $15.00 |
| January 1, 2021 | $15.24 |
Wage Violations
To report a suspected violation, contact the City of San Jose’s Office of Equality Assurance (OEA) if you believe an employer is not paying minimum wage. All complaints are confidential, and an employer cannot terminate or discriminate against an employee for filing a complaint with OEA.
There are three ways to file a complaint:
1. In person at the Office of Equality Assurance – 200 East Santa Clara Street, 5th Floor, San Jose, CA 95113
2. By calling (408) 535-8430
3. By emailing MyWage@sanjoseca.gov
Please be prepared to provide the following information:
- Your name, mailing address, and phone number
- Name, address, and phone number of the business
- Manager or owner’s name
- Type of work performed
- How and when employees are paid (example: cash or check, weekly or bi-weekly)
Any additional information you can provide; such as copies of pay stubs, personal records of hours worked, or other information regarding the business’s pay practice can be helpful.
What Employers Need to Know
As of January 1, 2021, all businesses operating within the geographic boundaries of the City of South San Francisco are required to pay a minimum wage of $15.24 per hour for all employees working two or more hours per week.
Each year the City will publish by November 1, a poster announcing the adjusted Minimum Wage rate, which will take effect January 1, every year. It is the employer’s responsibility to post the notice in a visible place for employees to review the current rate and understand their rights.
It is unlawful for an employer or any other party to discriminate in any manner or take adverse action against any person in retaliation for exercising their rights.
The City is responsible for conducting all investigations of any possible violations by an employer or other person. The City has the authority to inspect workplaces, interview people, and request the City Attorney to subpoena books, papers, records, or other items relevant to the enforcement of the minimum wage.
For more information on details pertaining to employer obligations, please visit the FAQ page.
What Employees Need to Know
As of January 1, 2021, all businesses operating within the geographic boundaries of the City of South San Francisco are required to pay a minimum wage of $15.24 per hour for all employees working two or more hours per week.
As an employee, the City’s ordinance outlines your rights under the new law, including, but not limited to:
- The right to file a complaint and inform the City about any business not complying with the City’s local minimum wage regulations
- The right to inform any employee of their potential rights and assist them reporting a business not complying with the City’s local minimum wage regulations
To report a suspected violation, you must submit a complaint in writing to the City. Any complaints received by the City are considered confidential to the maximum extent permitted by law; this includes the name or any other identifying information of the employee or person reporting the violation.
For more information about employee rights with regards to the City’s local minimum wage ordinance, please visit the FAQ page.
Documents
If you have questions, or need additional information, please contact the City Manager’s Office at:
City of South San Francisco
City Manager’s Office
400 Grand Avenue
South San Francisco, CA 94080
(650) 829-6616