Created equal: How the Michigan Supreme Court’s ruling on minimum wage and sick leave will affect workers and businesses

The Michigan Supreme Court declared unconstitutional actions by Republican lawmakers to stop the implementation of minimum wage increases and paid sick leave in 2018. On July 31, Maternal Justice Against the Attorney General ruled that the Republican Party’s actions “violated the constitutionally guaranteed right of the people to propose and enact laws.”

This decision ensures that the original language of the Enhanced Workforce Opportunity Wage Act (IWOWA) and the Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA) are implemented over the current versions, which were amended in the November 2018 general election.

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By implementing the original text of IWOWA, Michigan’s minimum wage of $10.33 will rise to $12 by February 2025 and be $15 per hour by 2029. To account for inflation, hourly wages will be guaranteed to be proportionally adjusted as they are implemented. Additionally, the minimum wage for tipped workers, which is $3.93 per hour, will be phased out by February 2029.

Additionally, the original ESTA text guarantees up to 72 hours of paid sick leave per year for Michigan workers. All Michigan employers must provide this leave, meaning all employees are eligible.

Today in Created equal, Host Stephen Henderson spoke with Danielle Atkinson, an advocate whose work focuses on promoting economic equity in Michigan, and Brian Calley, director of the Michigan Small Business Association, who has said the new rules could cost Michiganders money and jobs.

Guests

Danielle Atkinson She is the founder and national director of Mothering Justice, a nonprofit that advocates for policies that support mothers of color. She says this law is beneficial because most Michiganders don’t have access to paid time off to care for their children or themselves, and choosing between health care and paying their bills isn’t fair.

“Seventy percent of voters say they are in favor of this (legislation). The reason they say they are in favor of it is because they need it — they don’t have access to a single day of paid sick leave,” Atkinson said. “(This) means they are choosing between going to work sick or paying their bills, putting public health at risk and not being there for themselves or their loved ones.”

Brian Calley He is the executive director of the Michigan Small Business Association. He is concerned for Michigan workers, because those who already have a lot of free time may have less of it under the new rules.

“It imposes a one-size-fits-all solution, which might help some people who had less than this or nothing at all. But it also has the potential to eliminate flexibility and also … eliminate the amount of time that (employees) have off today, especially if they don’t normally have sick days,” Calley said.