Oakland, CA — Oakland’s Measure FF, a voter-enacted ballot measure passed in
November 2014, provides annual increases to Oakland’s Minimum Wage based on
the local Consumer Price Index (CPI). Effective January 1, 2018, the rate rises 37¢,
from $12.86 to $13.23 per hour. The law also requires that employers inform
employees of the increase by December 15, 2017. To assist employers, the City of
Oakland has posted notification posters at oaklandnet.com/minimumwage.
Many cities and states across the nation have enacted minimum wage laws so that
workers may earn a wage that will allow them to provide for themselves and their
families. Oakland voters spoke at the ballot box by resoundingly passing Measure
FF with an 82% majority in November 2014. Regionally, several cities have also
enacted minimum wage laws. San Francisco’s minimum wage is currently $14.00
per hour and Emeryville’s is $14.00 per hour for Small Businesses and $15.20 per
hour for Large Businesses.
“Raising the minimum is the right thing to do and helps all Oakland workers,” said
Mayor Libby Schaaf. “It also supports our local shops and economy when
residents earn a respectable wage. As we continue to fight the cost of living crisis
in our region, raising the minimum wage is the morally responsible thing to do.”
Minimum Wage Increase
Based on the local CPI, Measure FF raises the minimum wage in Oakland to
$13.23 on January 1, 2018. Employees who perform at least two hours of work in
a particular workweek within Oakland – including part-time, temporary and
seasonal employees – must be paid at lea
Oakland’s Minimum Wage
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must distribute and prominently display notices of the new Minimum Wage rate
of $13.23 to employees by December 15, 2017. Notices must be in languages
spoken by more than 10% of employees. Each new employee at time of hire
should also receive the notice of the new Minimum Wage.
To assist employers, the City of Oakland has provided notification posters in
English, Chinese, Spanish and Vietnamese for download at
oaklandnet.com/minimumwage.
Outreach Efforts to Raise Awareness about Measure FF
To educate both employers and employees about the minimum wage increase, the
City of Oakland is conducting considerable business and community outreach. The
City will: mail an informational insert in four languages in the Business License
Tax Renewal mailing in December, distribute 25,000 postcards throughout the
community, regularly post information on social media, advertise in select
newspapers including non-English outlets, broadcast a series of informational
slides on the City’s television station KTOP TV 10, conduct business-by-business
visits in commercial districts, host a workshop on employment laws in January
2018 and support ongoing monthly Workers’ Rights Legal Clinics.
Resources for Employers
In January 2018, the City will host a workshop on employment laws, including
minimum wage. Interpretation will be provided in Spanish and Cantonese. Details
on the workshop’s location and time will be posted to the minimum wage web
page shortly.
Business owners who need a referral to a service provider for additional assistance
with the employment law or general business technical assistance should contact
the City of Oakland’s Business Assistance Center (BAC) at
oaklandbusinesscenter.com, (510) 238-7952 or oaklandbac@oaklandca.gov. Free
monthly business law clinics are provided by Legal Services for Entrepreneurs, a
program of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay
Area.
Resources for Employees
Monthly Walk-In Workers’ Rights Legal Clinics are held by the City’s partner,
Centro Legal de la Raza, 3022 International Blvd., Suite 410. During these clinics,
individual consultations with Centro Legal attorneys are available on a first-come,
first-served basis. Appointment slots fill quickly, so please arrive early. The walkin
clinics are held the third Wednesday of every month from 9 a.m. to noon. Other
workers’ rights clinics are by appointment only. Call Centro Legal de La Raza at
(510) 437-1554.
If you believe that your employer is not paying you the voter-mandated minimum
wage and providing paid sick leave, you can hire an attorney to file an action
against your employer or contact the City of Oakland’s Contracts & Compliance
office at (510) 238-6258, or email: minwageinfo@oaklandca.gov.
To file a complaint with the City, please visit oaklandnet.com/minimumwage
and complete the Employee Questionnaire & Declaration Form. After you submit
your completed form, a Minimum Wage Compliance Officer will follow up with
you.
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December 12, 2017
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Employers are prohibited from discharging, reducing compensation or otherwise
discriminating against any person who makes a complaint under the ordinance.
More Resources Available Online
The City of Oakland has created a web page dedicated to providing up-to-date
information, tools and resources for employers and employees needing information
about this employment law. Go to oaklandnet.com/minimumwage to find:
• Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Legally mandated notification posters for the workplace in English,
Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese
• Tools and resources for employers, including partner organizations that
offer technical assistance and legal resources
• Measure FF ballot measure language
If employers or employees have questions or need additional assistance after
visiting oaklandnet.com/minimumwage, they should call (510) 238-6258, or
email: minwageinfo@oaklandca.gov. Kindly provide your name and telephone
number as well as business name and address in your message. City staff will
respond to questions and provide additional information.
Business Impacts
Data from the State of California’s Employment Development Department
indicates that Oakland’s unemployment rate has fallen from 6.1% in February
2015 to 4.2% in October 2017. In the same time period, the number of Oakland
residents employed has risen from 196,400 to 206,100.
Additional insight can be provided in the results of a business survey conducted by
a Mills College graduate student in July 2015 aimed to find out how Measure FF
affected employment, business location and prices. More than a 110 Oakland
businesses responded from a wide range of industries and geographic areas. Nearly
half (45%) of the respondents said they had made changes as a result of the
Minimum Wage hike. Only 4% reported a decrease in the number of full-time
employees, while 17% reported an increase in the number of full-time employees.
More than 20% of respondents used City services to respond to the requirements of
Measure FF. The survey results were consistent across different geographic areas
within Oakland. Only two respondents suggested changes in the Minimum Wage
law as an important way that the City of Oakland can support businesses.
Support Oakland Businesses, Support Oakland Workers
It’s important to support our dynamic local business community and in turn
support Oakland workers. Shop in Oakland stores, dine at Oakland restaurants,
visit Oakland cafes, stay in Oakland hotels and hire Oakland companies.