California Labor &
Employment Law Blog
Olympic Wages Approved by Los Angeles City Council 
Jan 21, 2025

Olympic Wages Approved by Los Angeles City Council 

Topics: Wage & Hour Issues

As a present to organized labor, the Los Angeles City Council voted to approve a draft of the “Olympic Wage Ordinance” that, when finalized, will have a profound impact on the City’s hotel industry--an industry experiencing an unexpected spike in demand resulting from the tragic realities of persons recently displaced by the wildfires.  

The ordinance is designed to incrementally increase minimum wages for certain hotel (and other) workers by $2.50 per year until a $30/hour wage is achieved by July 2028, when the Olympics are set to begin:

  • $22.50/hour eff. July 1, 2025
  • $25.00/hour eff. July 1, 2026
  • $27.50/hour eff. July 1, 2027
  • $30.00/hour eff. July 1, 2028

In addition to wage increases, the ordinance also will increase healthcare benefit payment entitlements.

The ordinance will cover employees at Los Angeles hotels with 60 or more rooms, as well as other workers in the tourism industry, concessions, airport workers, and various others. It will also include a right-to-cure provision that requires employees to give employers advance written notice of violations of the ordinance and 30 days to cure the alleged violation before filing an administrative charge or court complaint.

Presumably, the City Council’s plan was to finalize the draft into formal law in early 2025 before the planned July 2025 wage increase. It is unclear if the impact of the wildfires will change those plans or change the ordinance in any way. Los Angeles employers in the hotel and tourism industries should keep an eye on the Olympic Wage Ordinance and the City Council’s related actions over the next few months to make sure they are prepared and compliant when the inevitable changes do come. Of course, you may contact the author of this blog or any CDF attorney for up-to-date information and guidance.

About CDF

For over 25 years, CDF has distinguished itself as one of the top employment, labor and immigration firms in California, representing employers in single-plaintiff and class action lawsuits and advising employers on related legal compliance and risk avoidance. We cover the state, with five locations from Sacramento to San Diego.

> visit primary site

About the Editor in Chief

San Diego Associate Attorney. Taylor has experience defending employers of all sizes in employment-related claims regarding wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, COVID-19 compliance, and employment-related tort and contract claims. Taylor also has experience defending management in wage and hour class actions and PAGA representative actions. Taylor is a member of the Lawyers Club of San Diego and received her Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego School of Law, where she was a member of the Student Bar Association, Employment and Labor Law Society, Business Law Society, and Women’s Law Caucus.
> Full Bio   > Email   Call 858.646.0077

CDF Labor Law LLP © 2025

Editorial Board About CDF What We Do Contact Us Attorney Advertising Disclaimer Privacy Policy Cookie Policy