This wage and hour Law Firm Publication by Epstein, Becker & Green, P.C. addresses the Chicago City Council's approval of an ordinance increasing the city's minimum wage in each of the next five years. The hourly minimum wage will rise to $10.00 on July 1, 2015, $10.50 on July 1, 2016, $11.00 on July 1, 2017, $12.00 on July 1, 2018 and $13.00 on July 1, 2019. Beginning in 2020, the minimum wage will increase each July 1 to the greatest of the federal, state or city's minimum wage. The ordinance applies to businesses within Chicago that are subject to city license requirements and employ at least one covered employee (an employee who spends at least two hours in a two week period working in Chicago). The ordinance also includes provisions for annual minimum wage increases for tipped employees.