LANSING — Advocacy groups are making another appeal for Michigan lawmakers to amend or maintain changes to minimum wage and tipped wage policies before the end of the year.
Barring any legislative changes, the minimum wage will increase to $12.48 next year, and by about $.80 annually until reaching $15 in 2028.
Tipped wages would increase from 38% of the minimum wage to 48% in 2025, 60% in 2026, and increase by 10% annually until becoming equal with the minimum wage in 2030.
Some servers say they appreciate the current wage system and that lawmakers should keep tipped wages at 38% of the minimum wage.
“I have a flexible job. I am essentially a stay at home mom all day with my kids, and then I go work nights and weekends,” said Amy Covert, a server from Jackson. “If that gets taken away from me, there is not a single other job that I could do with my bachelor’s degree that I have where I could make that kind of money in that short amount of time and still take care of my kids.”
Those pushing for reforms say they’re concerned that increased wages will lead to increased business expenses, higher menu prices and a decrease in willingness to tip.
“They’re going to have to reflect that in menu costs, which then are going to reflect on a family going out to eat, who may choose to no longer go out to eat because the bill gets so high,” said Sarah Van Horn, president of the Charlevoix Chamber. “Or they may choose to tip less, and then that’s going to affect the servers, and they’re going to end up making less than they would make currently.“
Other servers say that the current system leaves workers with a less predictable income stream.
“We do often talk about, ‘servers can make a lot of money really quickly and leave at the end of the night with cash in their pockets.’ That’s not every night — that is, in fact, not even most nights,” said Sam Taub, a server from Detroit.
Some lawmakers have proposed lengthening the phase in of the minimum wage to 2030, and eliminating the tipped wage changes entirely.
“The thing that we’re saying is, no, we don’t want there to be any modifications to this,” Taub said. “This is something that the people of Michigan want. We want to be able to take care of ourselves and our families and each other.
Democrats will control the state House until the end of the year, but it remains to be seen whether they will put forward any changes to the policy.
Republicans will retake the House in January, but any response would also require support from the Democrat-controlled Senate and Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.