A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly wage that employers may legally pay to employees or workers. Under California law, the minimum wage is $8.00 per hour. The federal minimum wage is $6.55 per hour effective July 24, 2008. Beginning on July 1, 2014, the minimum wage in California rises to $9.00 per hour. It will rise again on January 1, 2016 to $10.00 per hour. Under the California Labor Code, agreements to work for less than minimum wages are illegal. Employees who are fired for objecting to being paid nothing or less than minimum wages for hours worked (including off the clock work, travel time, and computer login and boot up time), as well as time shaving, may sue for wrongful termination.
