Alaska’s Minimum Wage
Alaska’s minimum wage is currently $9.89 per hour (effective 1/1/2019).
Alaska’s Record-Keeping Requirements
Alaska employers must give their employees a pay-stub each pay period that explains how long the employee worked (hours), how much money the employee earned and how much money was actually paid.
The stub must include the number of hours actually worked; the employee’s rate of pay; the gross wages; the deductions for taxes; and other deductions the employee had authorized (if any) the employer to make. The pay-stub must also state the beginning and ending dates of the pay period.
Alaska’s Wage Payment Requirements
Payment on Termination:
If you are terminated by your employer, your employer must pay you all monies owed within three working days of termination (not including weekends and holidays).
Payment After Quitting:
If you quit, you must be paid by the next regular payday that is at least three working days after your last day worked.
Withholding of Wages:
Alaska Law allows and employer to withhold wages, only under certain conditions. Cash or cash register shortages, lost, missing, or stolen property as long as the employee has admitted willingly and in writing, to having personally taken the specific amount of cash or property alleged to be lost, missing or stolen may be withheld. If an employee has borrowed money from a third party, the employee can give the employer written permission to deduct payments from your earnings. If the employer has loaned an employee funds, they can deduct the amount from their earnings as long as you have given written authorization. As a general rule, deductions cannot reduce your gross pay below minimum wage or cut into your overtime.
Breaks and Meal Periods
Alaskan employers are required to provide break periods of at least 30 minutes for minors ages 14 – 17 who work 5 or more consecutive hours. Employers are not required to give breaks for employees 18 and over. If your employer allows breaks, and they last less than 20 minutes, you must be paid for the break. If your employer allows meal periods, the employer is not required to pay you for your meal period if it lasts more than 20 minutes and you do no work during that time.
Alaska Overtime Law
Under Alaska Overtime Law, most employees in Alaska must be paid overtime compensation for hours worked over 8 per day or 40 straight-time hours per week, whichever occurs. Overtime compensation is 1 1/2 times the employee’s straight-time rate of pay. In order to be eligible for overtime pay, employees must work at an employer that employs four (4) or more employees.
To learn more about Alaska Overtime Law visit the Alaska Division of Labor Standards and Safety at http://labor.state.ak.us/lss/whhome.htm
