State lawmakers recently passed legislation to change the state’s minimum wage law and require that employers offer earned sick time. But those laws haven’t gone into effect yet, and lawmakers want to make changes to those laws before they ever have a chance to be felt by Michigan’s residents.
The legislation was introduced by Republican Senators. Critics say lawmakers want to water down the new laws. They say if the Legislature didn’t like the laws, they should've let the voters decide on these issues on the ballot.
Representative Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) said she's concerned about a new bill that would get rid of parts of the earned sick time law. The law helps employees who sue their employer for retaliation for using their sick time.
“I think that it really dilutes a lot of what some of the protections need to be for workers in Michigan,” she said.
Another bill would bring back a lower minimum amount that employers have to pay tipped workers.
Before the bills were introduced, Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof (R-West Olive) said both laws needed to be changed in order to protect businesses.
“So we continue to keep our economy on track and not put up a roadblock or hindrance in their way,” he said.
