This Law Firm Publication by Jackson Lewis, P.C. discusses a recent ordinance passed by Santa Monica, California's City Council requiring covered employers to provide paid sick leave to employees who work at least two hours each week within Santa Monica (hotel workers are entitled to paid sick leave regardless of how many hours they work in a particular week). Ordinance 2509 also provides for minimum wage increases beginning on July 1, 2016 (or July 1, 2017 for employers of up to 25 employees) and occurring every year on that date up through 2020 (or 2021 for smaller employers). Beginning in 2022, minimum wage increases will be tied to increases in the relevant Consumer Price Index. Separate minimum wage rates are established for hotel workers. The Ordinance also requires employers to distribute all service charges to employees who performed services for the customers who pay the service charges.