The Michigan House of Representatives voted Thursday to approve legislation intended to adjust the state’s minimum wage and sick leave laws to avoid unintended reduction of wages for tipped workers or present undue burdens on employers.
In February, the minimum wage for tipped workers in Michigan will increase by nearly $2 per hour to just under $6. On Thursday, lawmakers passed legislation to stop the planned raises while also limiting sick time benefits for 1.5 million hospitality workers.
The Republican-controlled House approved the bill with support from several Democrats, 67 to 38. One of the Democrats voting against approval was area State Representative Joey Andrews.
“These bills slash wages for Michigan’s workers and strip earned sick leave protections from 96% of our workforce, making life harder for those who are already struggling to make ends meet,” said Andrews.
South Haven’s Chamber of Commerce issued a statement supporting what they call, “commonsense changes to the onerous Earned Sick Time Act” saying it’s a must-pass for area businesses to survive.
“The (Michigan) Chamber has spent the last six months highlighting the unique challenges organizations of all sizes face under (act’s) one-size-fits-all mandates and the difficulty businesses, especially those relying on tipped workers, will have in implementing the minimum wage changes. The bills passed in the Michigan House address the majority of those challenges and make the laws more workable for employers and employees alike.”
The legislation now moves to the Senate for consideration.
