Portland Hazard Pay No Longer in Effect Given Expiration of State of Emergency Declared by Janet Mills

by Shiloh Theberge and Bill Wahrer

The state of emergency Governor Mills declared on January 11, 2024 because of the recent storm that resulted in strong winds and flooding along the coast, expired at 12:15 p.m. today. This means that Portland employers can stop paying employees the emergency minimum wage of $22.50 per hour for regular employees and $11.25 per hour for tipped employees under the Portland City Minimum Wage Ordinance and return employees to their regular rate of pay.

Employers not already aware should know that between 12:15 p.m. on January 11, 2024 and 12:15 p.m. today, January 18, 2024, they should have been paying employees working in Portland the increased minimum wage amounts listed above. Employers who fail to comply with these temporary emergency wage levels are potentially liable for treble damages under Maine law.