Lawmakers Grapple With Sub-Minimum Wages For Workers With Disabilities

By HANNAH COLTON | September 13, 2019 People with intellectual and developmental disabilities often get individualized support in order to hold a job. Many work for regular pay, but a nearly century-old federal labor law allows some employers to pay these workers less than minimum wage. Lawmakers called a task force to study this issue earlier this year. The Legislative Health and Human Services' Disabilities Concerns Subcommittee heard arguments Wednesday for and against the controversial practice. The U.S. Department of Labor program allows employers to adjust wages based on how a person’s disability affects their work productivity. ...