Minimum wage increase set for Tuesday
CRMA webinar focuses on adjusting to a new retail world
CRMA Golf Outing update
News and notes from around the state
- On Tuesday of next week, CT’s minimum wage is scheduled to increase again, this time moving from its current level of $11.00 to $12.00.
- The scheduled increases were part of legislation that passed in 2019 and increases the minimum wage in stages until it reaches $15.00 in 2023.
- As a reminder here are the scheduled increases:
- $12.00 on September 1, 2020
- $13.00 on August 1, 2021
- $14.00 on July 1, 2022
- $15.00 on June 1, 2023
- In addition to the scheduled increase that will reach $15.00 per hour in 2023, starting on January 1, 2024, and on each January 1 every year after that, the bill requires the minimum wage to be adjusted by the percent change in the federal Employment Cost Index (ECI).
- CRMA did reach out to some key legislators and staff and asked that this year’s increase to be delayed during this unprecedented time. Unfortunately, those requests were unsuccessful.
- The Legislature’s Office of Legislative Research has a good report on the increase of the minimum wage, not only for CT but for other states.
- You can go here to look at that report:
CRMA Webinar
- As you navigate through the new normal of retail, it is critical to have measures in place to make customers and employees feel safe.
- In addition to the safe store guidelines that the State of CT has mandated, there are additional measures that can be taken on a voluntary basis that can be beneficial to your store.
- Retailers understand that first impressions are paramount – if a customer does not feel you have taken the proper safety precautions when they visit your business, it is possible you have lost a customer for life.
- CRMA has teamed up with Retail Control Systems to talk about the new world of safe stores and touchless transactions in the age of COVID-19 during an interactive webinar that will take place on Wednesday, September 16, 2020.
- Look for more information over the next couple of weeks on how you can register for the webinar, and more details on specific topics we will be discussing.
CRMA Golf outing update.
- Speaking of events, we have decided to move ahead with our annual Golf Outing this year.
- After much conversation and discussion, we moved the date of the outing to Tuesday, October 13, 2020 and will once again hold it at the Wampanoag CC in West Hartford.
- All COVID-19 safety precautions will be in place, so guests can feel safe while enjoying a round of golf and helping the Association at this critical fundraiser.
- We hope you will join us this year. You can register by emailing us at tim@ctretailnetwork.com or by going to our website, crmaonline.com
- We appreciate ANY support you can give.
News and notes from around the State:
- The State’s rainy-day fund has exceeded the legal limit for the first time in 19 years, approaching $3.1 billion. CT Mirror has the latest fiscal news here.
- Lamont and state officials launched a new state website, business.ct.gov, to make it easier for new businesses to do business in the state and improve citizens’ interactions with state government. The new site is described in a news story on Patch, here.
- Our friend Ken Dixon of Hearst CT Media has the story on how the Tri-state Governors are working together once again, this time criticizing the Administrations new testing protocols. Ken’s store is here.
- Speaking of COVID here are the latest numbers for CT as of yesterday. There are 56 patients in CT hospitalized with COVID-19. A total of 1,111,401 COVID-19 tests have been reported, with 52,350 cases. There have been 4,465 deaths. Connecticut’s travel advisory remains in effect, directing individuals to self-quarantine for a 14-day period if they come into Connecticut from one of 31 states and territories. The list of states can be seen here.