MN SF2443

Establishes different minimum wage requirements based on employer size: large employers (annual gross sales of $625,000 or more) must pay at least $6.15 per hour; small employers (less than $625,000) must pay at least $5.25 per hour, as of August 1, 2005.

Allows employers to pay employees under age 20 a minimum of $4.90 per hour during their first 90 consecutive days of employment, with restrictions on displacing existing employees to hire at this lower rate.

Permits employers to count gratuities toward minimum wage requirements for tipped employees if the employee does not earn sufficient tips to reach $12 per hour when combined with a base wage of at least $7.25 per hour.

Prohibits employers from applying gratuities to satisfy minimum wage obligations except under the new gratuities provision, maintaining the general rule that tips cannot be credited toward minimum wage.

All changes take effect July 1, 2012.