Florida Wage and Hour Laws 2025 – All You Need to Know

Florida wage and hour laws guarantee just payment and workplace standards for all employees in multiple industries. State and federal rules together shape employee payment methods and hours tracking while protecting their rights as of 2025.

Recent key developments, including the voter-approved minimum wage increase initiative, demonstrate a decisive move toward enhancing worker protections and tackling cost-of-living issues. A Hollywood unpaid wages lawyer can help you understand your rights and protections under the law.

Florida Minimum Wage in 2025

The passage of Amendment 2 by Florida voters in 2020 initiated the state’s process to reach a $15.00 minimum wage by the year 2026. Florida stands among the limited number of Southeast states that have implemented a voter-approved wage raise that affects over 2.5 million workers across the state. The minimum wage will reach $14.00 per hour on September 30, 2025.

The Florida Policy Institute reports that over 25% of Florida residents will experience benefits from the $15-per-hour minimum wage when it becomes fully effective in 2026, which also includes the 646,000 people who initially earned higher wages during the transition phase to $10 per hour.

Tipped Employees in Florida

Florida law specifies that servers and bartenders receive compensation under a different wage system. Businesses have the right to apply a tip credit, which can reduce the hourly cash wage to $9.98 as long as employees receive a combined minimum of $14.00 per hour from wages plus tips in 2025.

The responsibility to ensure employees meet this earning threshold falls on employers. Employers have to compensate when their employees do not earn enough in tips to meet the minimum hourly threshold. The restaurant and hospitality industries bear the brunt of this regulation because these sectors commonly operate on tip-based income models.

Overtime Pay

The state of Florida adheres to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) when determining overtime regulations. According to the FLSA, non-exempt workers must earn one and a half times their standard pay rate when they work more than 40 hours in a single workweek.

Occupations classified as overtime-exempt generally include executive, administrative, and professional positions if they satisfy particular criteria regarding job responsibilities and salary levels. Misclassification of employees continues to be a widespread violation throughout Florida.

Enforcement and Penalties

Florida’s business owners must provide clear information about wage legislation to their workers. The state’s updated minimum wage notice must be displayed prominently in areas like employee break rooms and timekeeping stations. These visible postings function to keep workers informed about their wage rights and existing minimum wage standards.

Employers who do not meet state wage requirements by underpaying workers or incorrectly classifying their positions can incur financial penalties and face legal consequences. Authorities prioritize enforcement actions against repeated or deliberate violations, while penalties increase based on both how severe the offense is and how long it lasted.

Employees suspecting wage unfairness must start resolution proceedings through documented notification to their employer. Under Florida regulations, employers must have an opportunity to rectify wage disputes before any legal proceedings commence after receiving written notice. Workers can file a formal complaint or seek legal remedies from the court system if their employer does not address their concerns promptly.

Florida state law allows the filing of wage and hour disputes in County Courts for minor claims and Circuit Courts for major or complicated cases. For federal wage violations, such as those under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), cases are typically filed in one of the state’s U.S. District Courts, such as the Northern District of Florida and both the Middle District and Southern District of Florida.

FAQs

What Is the Wage and Hours Law in Florida?

Employers in Florida must adhere to state minimum wage laws, which dictate that hourly pay will rise each year until it reaches $15 per hour by late 2026. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) sets overtime rules, which mandate that non-exempt employees earn 1.5 times their standard pay rate for working beyond 40 hours each week. Tipped and exempt workers have special classifications.

What Is the 7-Minute Rule in Florida?

The “7-minute rule” represents a federal timekeeping standard that doesn’t constitute Florida’s state law. Employees who clock in up to seven minutes late can have their arrival time rounded down according to this rule. Any time that equals eight minutes or more gets rounded up. Florida adheres to federal rounding regulations, provided these rules do not cause employees to receive less pay over a period of time.

Can an Employer Require a Salaried Employee to Work More Than 40 Hours in Florida?

Salaried workers in Florida may be required to work over 40 hours weekly based on their exemption status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Employees with exempt status do not qualify for overtime pay but may be assigned work schedules that exceed 40 hours per week. Non-exempt salaried workers should receive overtime pay whenever they work more than 40 hours within a single workweek.

How Many Hours Straight Can You Legally Work in a Day in Florida?

Florida lacks any regulation that restricts the maximum number of consecutive hours an adult worker can be scheduled for daily work. Florida has no state requirements for meal or rest breaks, which allows employers to schedule lengthy shifts as long as they follow federal labor regulations. The daily and weekly working hours for minors under 18 years old are strictly limited, especially when school is in session.

Contact The Law Office of Michelle Cohen Levy, P.A., Today

Employees require greater knowledge than ever before about their rights and how to enforce them. Your financial security and workplace dignity receive protection from these laws regardless of your job status as a minimum wage worker, trainee, or overtime employee.

Do not hesitate to seek legal advice if you think your wage rights have been violated or if you need clarification about your legal choices. Contact The Law Office of Michelle Cohen Levy, P.A., today to protect your rights and recover lost wages while ensuring fair treatment at work. Immediate legal consultation holds the potential to significantly impact your situation, so seek trusted legal support right away.