State Rep. Gina Johnsen (R-Portland) today voted in support of Republican plans that address the needs of local job providers and their hardworking employees amid uncertainty surrounding Michigan’s tipped wage laws and sick leave policies.

Without legislative intervention, the Michigan Supreme Court’s decision to phase out the tip credit and enact other unrealistic mandates for sick leave and wages would take effect Feb. 21 and could force local job providers to lay off staff, cut employee hours or close entirely.

Republican House Bills 4001 and 4002 help strike a needed balance between fostering economic growth, protecting livelihoods and preventing mass closures.

“We promised employees and job providers that we would listen to their concerns and bring forward a solution that works for everyone,” Johnsen said. “Thousands of tipped wage earners and small business owners have raised their voices in opposition to the ruling and shared about the detrimental impact it will have on their livelihoods. I’m proud of my caucus for following through on our promise to make this a priority at the top of this new legislative term.”

The bills preserve tipped wages, move toward a higher minimum wage and maintain the status quo for earned sick leave while ensuring small businesses with low staff numbers are not harshly impacted by no-notice sick leave that would routinely leave them understaffed and overwhelmed.

House Democrats did not take up legislation on these issues to close out the 2023-24 term, despite bipartisan support for reform and continued pleas from servers, bartenders and the state’s small business sector regarding what the ruling would do to their livelihoods.

The bills received overwhelming, bipartisan support and now advance to the state Senate for further consideration.

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