Minimum wage: Businesses make adjustments for wage increase

In just a few days, the increase in minimum wage will be official statewide, and minimum wage employees will start earning $11 per hour. Washington voters in November passed Initiative 1433, raising the minimum wage in 2017 to $11, in 2018 to $11.50, in 2019 to $12 and in 2020 to $13.50.

The initiative was passed with a 57 percent yes vote statewide, although voters in eastern and central Washington rejected the measure.

All but three western Washington counties approved the measure with 70 percent approval in King County and 67 percent approval in Jefferson County helping push the measure pas...