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July has arrived, and for many of us that means summer barbecues, cold beverages and time spent with family and friends. For more than 150,000 employees, July 1 also means a boost in wages as the minimum wage increases around the state.

Here are the top five things Oregon employers should know about the coming increase:

1. Oregon’s minimum wage is increasing now, and not in January

Employers should be ready to have minimum wage workers see an increase to their paychecks starting July 1. Any work performed in July should reflect the new higher rate immediately. Don’t wait!

2. Not all wage increases will be the same

Oregon has three minimum wage zones. The highest zone, in the Portland-metro area, will see an increase to $12.50 an hour. (Employers can see whether they’re inside the metro zone by accessing Metro’s ). Employers in the standard zone (Columbia, Clatsop, Tillamook, Yamhill, Marion, Polk, Lincoln, Benton, Linn, Lane, Deschutes, Hood River, Wasco, Jackson and Josephine counties) will see an increase in the minimum wage to $11.25 an hour. For all other counties in the rural zone, minimum wage will increase to $11 an hour.

3. Don’t fall for minimum wage poster scams

Employers can ignore third-party poster vendors attempting to scare them into buying posters at inflated prices. The required minimum wage poster is available in and for free on BOLI‘s . Also, low-cost composite posters are available.

4. There are options for employees working across multiple zones

When an employee works more than 50 percent of the time in a fixed location, the business should use the rate for that area during the pay period. But when an employee works across multiple minimum wage zones, the employer can either pay multiple rates based on where the employee performed the work or pay the highest rate across the board if the paperwork is cumbersome. Employers with questions can also call the employer hotline at 971-673-0824 to talk to a person (not a machine) and learn more.

5. The minimum wage increase does not affect other employees’ wages

An increase in the minimum wage does not create a requirement for businesses to give other workers a raise. For example, if an employee in the metro area is already making $12.50 an hour, the July minimum wage increase does not trigger another increase under law. The minimum wage directly impacts only Oregon’s lowest wage workers.

Oregon’s minimum wage law will affect thousands of employers and more than 150,000 low-wage earners around the state. For more information about BOLI’s efforts to help Oregon employers navigate the state’s minimum wage, please visit .

Charlie Burr is a training and development specialist for BOLI’s Technical Assistance for Employers program. He helps businesses navigate complex civil rights and wage and hour issues. Contact him at 971-673-0797 or [email protected].