Health care company increasing minimum wage to $15 per hour

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) - Delaware’s largest private employer says it is increasing its minimum wage to $15 an hour.

Officials with Christiana Care Health System say the increase will take effect Feb. 1 and will boost pay for about 500 of its nearly 12,000 employees.

Officials with Christiana, which operates two hospitals and a network of other health care units, say the increase affects a variety of positions including clerical, technical and service roles.

The new wage will be more than double the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, and well above Delaware’s minimum wage of $8.25 an hour. The state minimum increases to $8.75 an hour on Jan. 1.