I’ll assume that the actual processing of the paychecks is done by essential personal and they’re working, sending out checks to other essential personal.
But, presumably, adjusting the rate to implement the raise isn’t some automatic item in the payroll system that’s directly held back on a timer to the law, with someone updating it each year to keep holding back. More likely, it’s paperwork and data entry to process the raise and change the values used by the payroll system that cuts the check. One can assume that the person who does that data entry, or perhaps the one that submits the paperwork, or both, are NOT essential but are admin staff that’s currently not working. This would prevent it from being implemented, even if it’s not renewed in time.
After everything opens, if it’s in there or not anymore, that’s a different question then.
Plus, we all know what happens when you assume something…
