Labor Laws Hawaii Employers Need to Know for 2024

In the ever-evolving landscape of employment regulations, staying compliant with the latest labor laws is crucial for employers.

As we approach 2024, here are five labor law changes that will shape Hawaii’s employment landscape.

Minimum Wage Increase – Effective January 1, 2024

Ensure that your business is in compliance with recent and scheduled changes to Hawaii’s minimum wage. Effective January 1, 2024 Hawaii’s minimum wage will increase to $14 an hour. Tipped employees may be paid up to $1.25 less per hour if wages + tips equal $21.00 or more per hour (through December 31, 2025). Minimum wage is scheduled to increase again on the following dates:

• $16.00 per hour beginning January 1, 2026
• $18.00 per hour beginning January 1, 2028

Pay Transparency Law – Effective January 1, 2024

Hawaii joined the growing list of states that have passed pay transparency laws. Under Act 203, Hawaii employers with 50 or more employees will be required to disclose pay rates in job listings starting January 1, 2024. For details on what is required and how you can prepare visit: Hawaii Pay Transparency Law: What Employers Need to Know – ALTRES

IRS E-Filing – Effective January 1, 2024

Any business or entity that must file ten or more forms for a single tax year will be required to file electronically with the IRS. The “ten-or-more” threshold applies to the total number of forms filed in calendar year, regardless of form types.

For example, an employer that files eight W-2 forms plus two 1099 forms for the 2023 tax year will be required to file those returns electronically with the IRS in 2024 because the total number of covered forms meets the new threshold of ten forms.

File 1099 series information returns through the IRS’ FREE online portal, IRIS. File Forms W-2 online with the Social Security Administration.

For more information on this updated requirement, please visit the IRS’ E-File Forms website or consult with a tax advisor.

Protections for Nursing Mothers (PUMP Act) – Effective since April 28, 2023

Effective April 28, 2023, nursing mothers received federal protections under the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act (“PUMP Act”). This new law expands employer obligations under Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and provides more expansive remedies if an employer violates workers’ rights under the Act. However, Hawaii employers are not largely affected by the PUMP Act since Hawaii Act 249, the state law protecting breastfeeding workers that went into effect in 2013, is more stringent than the federal PUMP Act. For reference on how the laws compare, visit Hawaii Employment Law: Breastfeeding in the Workplace is a Protected Act – ALTRES

Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) – Effective since June 27, 2023

Effective June 27, 2023, covered employers with 15 or more employees are required to provide “reasonable accommodations” to workers for “known limitations” related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions unless the accommodation will cause the employer an “undue hardship.”

PWFA expanded Hawaii’s pregnancy discrimination law, and it is being enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

For more information visit: What You Should Know About the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (eeoc.gov)

If staying on top of federal and state employment laws seems like a full-time job to you, you’re totally right. That’s where our team of HR experts can help. We monitor federal and state legal updates so that you can focus on what you do best. To learn more about how we can help your business, contact us.