Ahead of new labor laws coming into force, the Michigan state House has passed measures to reduce the scope of paid sick leave and minimum wage increases. This legislative action follows a Michigan Supreme Court decision that found previous Republican efforts to modify petition initiatives in 2018 unconstitutional.
The bills, championed by Republicans, propose to maintain a lower minimum wage for tipped workers. Proponents, including Republicans and some business figures, argue that raising the minimum wage for these workers could lead to a decline in tipping, thus reducing their overall income.
Representative Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay Township) expressed concerns over the court’s resolution, stating, “So as I worked through that ruling and I believe many members of this House on both sides of the aisle did,” he argued, “it was easy to see that this was the proverbial freight train coming at small business and coming specifically at the tipped hospitality workers, restaurant employees, bartenders.”
On the other hand, Representative Dylan Wegela (D-Garden City) contends that a full wage plus tips is more beneficial for workers than a sub-minimum wage plus tips. “It turns out that it is better for workers to receive a full wage with tips on top rather than a sub-minimum wage with tips on top,” he noted.
Additionally, one of the proposed bills seeks to limit the number of employers required to comply with the sick time initiative and to impose stricter notice requirements for taking sick leave.
Critics, including advocates of the original petition campaigns, argue that the Republican lawmakers acted in bad faith by initially adopting the initiatives only to weaken them later. According to Progress Michigan Executive Director Sam Inglot, “The majority of Michiganders support the increase in the state’s minimum wage laws, the elimination of the subminimum wage, and the implementation of paid sick leave for workers across the state.”
The proposed bills now move to the Michigan Senate, controlled by Democrats, who have introduced their own legislative package on the matter. Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) stated, “I believe we can achieve a balance that ensures that workers have strong rights, employers are able to run their businesses, and that the spirit of the initiative petition – which received hundreds of thousands of signatures – is upheld.” She further emphasized, “… I will not rubber stamp a plan that takes sick leave away from a million Michiganders.”
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