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4 <br /> <br />Under the Ordinance, employees who assert their rights to receive the City’s minimum <br />wage are protected from retaliation. Employees may file a civil lawsuit against their <br />employers for any violation of the Ordinance or may file a complaint with the City of San <br />Mateo. The City contracts with the City of San Jose to investigate possible violations <br />and requires access to payroll records. The City of San Mateo enforces violations of <br />their minimum wage ordinance by ordering reinstatement of employees, payment of <br />back wages unlawfully withheld, and penalties. <br /> <br />Demographics of Low Wage Workers in San Mateo County and Redwood City <br />The San Mateo County Health System conducted a high-level analysis in 2015 to create <br />a profile of low-wage workers, defined as those who earn $15.00 per hour or less, in <br />San Mateo County. They used data from the 2009-2013 Census to determine that about <br />25% (88,000) of workers in San Mateo County earn $15.00 an hour or less. <br /> <br />They also made the following key findings about workers earning $15.00 or less within <br />the County: <br /> <br />· The vast majority of low-wage workers are in the middle of their careers with <br />nearly three quarters between 25-64 years old while only one fifth are 18-24 <br />years old. <br />· Low-wage workers’ racial and ethnic backgrounds parallel that of the County <br />overall and primarily include Latino (35%), Asian (29%) and White (27%) <br />workers. However, Latinos are three times more likely to be low-wage workers <br />than Whites. <br />· One-third of low-wage workers live in households that earn below 200% of the <br />Federal Poverty Level, or $48,600 in annual income for a family of four. <br />· Approximately 70% of low-wage workers are U.S. citizens. <br />· More than half of low-wage workers have had at least some college education, <br />and one-fifth have a Bachelor’s degree or higher. <br />· Many low-wage workers (43%) are a part of married couples in which both adults <br />work, and a significant number (14%) are in households headed by single <br />working women. <br />· Nearly half (43%) live in households with children. <br />· Low-wage workers are found in all industries but are concentrated in <br />Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services; Retail Trade; Health Care and <br />Social Assistance; Accommodation and Food Services; and Arts, Entertainment <br />and Recreation. <br /> <br />The information used to create a profile of low-wage workers in San Mateo County is <br />only available at the County level and could not be used to identify information about <br />Redwood City. City staff intends to use a survey to business owners about a proposed <br />increase to minimum wage to better understand the number of low-wage workers in <br />Redwood City. However, the San Mateo County Health System did assist with <br />developing a profile of the overall work force in Redwood City, which according to 2014 <br />U.S. Census Bureau data had 53,007 workers. <br /> <br />8.A. - Page 4