2009 Maine Code
TITLE 26: LABOR AND INDUSTRY
Chapter 7: EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES
26 §664. Minimum wage; overtime rate

Title 26: LABOR AND INDUSTRY

Chapter 7: EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES

Subchapter 3: MINIMUM WAGES

§664. Minimum wage; overtime rate

Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, an employer may not employ any employee at a rate less than the rates required by this section. [1995, c. 305, §1 (RPR).]

1. Minimum wage. The minimum hourly wage is $6.50 per hour. Starting October 1, 2006, the minimum hourly wage is $6.75 per hour. Starting October 1, 2007, the minimum hourly wage is $7.00 per hour. Starting October 1, 2008, the minimum hourly wage is $7.25 per hour. Starting October 1, 2009, the minimum hourly wage is $7.50 per hour. If the highest federal minimum wage is increased in excess of the minimum wage in effect under this section, the minimum wage under this section is increased to the same amount, effective on the same date as the increase in the federal minimum wage, but in no case may the minimum wage exceed the minimum wage otherwise in effect under this section by more than $1 per hour.

[ 2007, c. 640, §4 (AMD) .]

2. Tip credit. An employer may consider tips as part of the wages of a service employee, but such a tip credit may not exceed 50% of the minimum hourly wage established in this section. An employer who elects to use the tip credit must inform the affected employee in advance and must be able to show that the employee receives at least the minimum hourly wage when direct wages and the tip credit are combined. Upon a satisfactory showing by the employee or the employee's representative that the actual tips received were less than the tip credit, the employer shall increase the direct wages by the difference.

The tips received by a service employee become the property of the employee and may not be shared with the employer. Service employees may volunteer to pool their tips to be split among other service employees or may volunteer to share a part of their tips with other employees who do not generally receive tips directly from customers. Tips that are automatically included in the customer's bill or that are charged to a credit card must be given to the service employee. A tip that is charged to a credit card must be paid by the employer to the employee by the next regular payday and may not be held while the employer is awaiting reimbursement from a credit card company.

[ 2007, c. 367, §2 (AMD) .]

3. Overtime rate. An employer may not require an employee to work more than 40 hours in any one week unless 1 1/2 times the regular hourly rate is paid for all hours actually worked in excess of 40 hours in that week. The regular hourly rate includes all earnings, bonuses, commissions and other compensation that is paid or due based on actual work performed and does not include any sums excluded from the definition of "regular rate" under the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 United States Code, Section 207(e).

The overtime provision of this section does not apply to:

A. Automobile mechanics, automobile parts clerks, automobile service writers and automobile salespersons as defined in section 663. The interpretation of these terms must be consistent with the interpretation of the same terms under federal overtime law, 29 United States Code, Section 213; [2007, c. 360, §5 (AMD).]

B. [2007, c. 640, §5 (RP).]

C. Mariners; [1995, c. 305, §1 (NEW).]

D. Public employees, except those employed by the executive or judicial branch of the State; [2003, c. 423, §1 (AMD); 2003, c. 423, §5 (AFF).]

E. [2007, c. 640, §6 (RP).]

F. The canning, processing, preserving, freezing, drying, marketing, storing, packing for shipment or distribution of:

(1) Agricultural produce;

(2) Meat and fish products; and

(3) Perishable foods.

Individuals employed, directly or indirectly, for or at an egg processing facility that has over 300,000 laying birds must be paid overtime in accordance with this subsection; [2001, c. 628, §2 (AMD); 2001, c. 628, §5 (AFF).]

G. [2001, c. 628, §3 (NEW); 2001, c. 628, §5 (AFF); MRSA T. 26, §664, sub-§3, ¶ G (RP).]

H. Effective September 1, 2003, a driver or driver's helper who is subject to the provisions of 49 United States Code, Section 31502 as amended or to regulations adopted pursuant to that section if the driver or driver's helper is paid overtime pay reasonably equivalent to that required by this section for all hours worked in excess of 40 per week. The Department of Labor may adopt rules governing the determination of payment methods that satisfy the "reasonably equivalent" standard set forth in this paragraph. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A; [2001, c. 628, §3 (NEW); 2001, c. 628, §5 (AFF).]

I. A driver or driver's helper who is subject to the provisions of 49 United States Code, Section 31502 as amended or to regulations adopted pursuant to that section and who is represented for purposes of collective bargaining by a labor organization certified by the National Labor Relations Board that is a party to a collective bargaining agreement that intends to regulate the rate of pay to be paid the driver or driver's helper; and [2001, c. 628, §3 (NEW); 2001, c. 628, §5 (AFF).]

J. A driver or driver's helper who is subject to the provisions of 49 United States Code, Section 31502 as amended or to regulations adopted pursuant to that section and who is employed by an entity that is party to a contract with the Federal Government or an agency of the Federal Government that dictates the minimum hourly rate of pay to be paid the driver or driver's helper. [2001, c. 628, §3 (NEW); 2001, c. 628, §5 (AFF).]

[ 2007, c. 640, §§5, 6 (AMD) .]

4. Compensatory time. To the extent permitted under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, 29 United States Code, Section 207(o), the overtime pay requirement applicable to executive or judicial employees as described in subsection 3, paragraph D may be met through compensatory time agreements.

[ 2003, c. 423, §2 (NEW); 2003, c. 423, §5 (AFF) .]

SECTION HISTORY

1965, c. 410, §5 (AMD). 1967, c. 333, (AMD). 1967, c. 466, §5 (AMD). 1969, c. 184, (AMD). 1969, c. 356, (AMD). 1969, c. 504, §43 (AMD). 1969, c. 590, §41 (AMD). 1971, c. 78, §1 (AMD). 1971, c. 415, (AMD). 1971, c. 620, §13 (AMD). 1971, c. 622, §88 (AMD). 1973, c. 420, (AMD). 1973, c. 467, (AMD). 1973, c. 625, §171 (AMD). 1973, c. 752, §§1,2 (AMD). 1975, c. 23, (AMD). 1975, c. 352, (AMD). 1979, c. 54, (AMD). 1979, c. 516, §3 (AMD). 1983, c. 857, (AMD). 1985, c. 76, §2 (AMD). 1985, c. 576, (AMD). 1987, c. 738, §§1,2 (AMD). 1991, c. 507, §2 (AMD). 1991, c. 544, §1 (AMD). 1993, c. 233, §1 (AMD). 1993, c. 233, §3 (AFF). 1993, c. 434, §1 (AMD). 1993, c. 434, §8 (AFF). 1995, c. 305, §1 (RPR). 1995, c. 510, §1 (AMD). 1997, c. 136, §1 (AMD). 2001, c. 297, §1 (AMD). 2001, c. 336, §1 (AMD). 2001, c. 628, §§1-3 (AMD). 2001, c. 628, §5 (AFF). 2003, c. 423, §§1,2 (AMD). 2003, c. 423, §5 (AFF). 2003, c. 697, §1 (AMD). 2005, c. 578, §1 (AMD). 2007, c. 360, §5 (AMD). 2007, c. 367, §2 (AMD). 2007, c. 640, §§4-6 (AMD). MRSA T.26, §664/3/G (AMD).