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Labor Pains

McDonald's workers protest low wages in Illinois.
McDonald's workers protest low wages in Illinois.
Photo: Getty Images

Amidst the debate over how high the federal minimum wage (currently at $7.25 per hour) should be, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that the $2.31 per hour minimum wage for tipped workers hasn't changed since 1991, according to a story on NPR. The Maine state minimum wage for tipped workers is slightly higher at $3.75 per hour. Employers are technically required to make up the difference "if tips don't bring employees up to the level of the standard minimum wage," which would take a monumental effort even to track, let alone enforce. Follow the link and learn more about the ongoing debate. [NPR]