State Rep. Matthew Bierlein recently signed onto a letter urging Senate Majority leader Winnie Brinks to take up legislation that will help workers keep their jobs and local businesses from having to close once a state Supreme Court ruling takes effect Feb. 21.

House Bills 4001-02 work to reform unrealistic wage and sick leave mandates that will be forced onto businesses throughout Michigan and impact their workers. The Court’s decision also phases out the tip credit, which provides a key source of income for workers and in often cases is more than an employee would make with an increased minimum wage – notably in the service industry.

“My legislative office continues to receive hundreds of emails and calls from constituents on this issue and how reform is needed,” said Bierlein, of Vassar. “These communications are not only just from those in the restaurant industry who support their families and themselves through the tips they make. People in the agriculture industry are worried about being able to run their farms – some of which have been in their family for generations – and keep their workers due to these changes. Emergency medical providers are worried about how no-call, no-show sick leave as directed through the Court’s ruling could leave them understaffed and limit their ability to respond to their communities in times of crisis.

“If we do not act, there is a strong likelihood that livelihoods will be impacted. Costs will also go up for consumers as local businesses faced with these changes are forced to raise their prices in order to get by. This will affect everyone in our state if the Senate does not follow our lead in the House. It is imperative that the Senate stops playing politics with many people’s way of life and prioritizes these bills.”

HBs 4001-02 leave the current 38% tip credit while moving toward a higher minimum wage year over year. They also tweak an impractical, court-ordered, one-size-fits-all earned sick leave approach that applies to businesses that employ even one person. In its place, the bills define an employer as an entity with 50 or more workers and don’t subject businesses with less than that to the requirements.

The bills also let employees carry over more than 72 hours of unused sick time to an ensuing year if an employer permits, giving added flexibility for workers.

Bierlein recently voted to advance the plans to the Senate, and they received bipartisan support in the House.

“House Republicans are coming to you with open arms, seeking collaboration – not a standoff,” the letter to Brinks reads. “We are willing to fight to protect our tipped workers and small businesses. But we would much rather spend the next week or two crafting a bipartisan solution that will gain overwhelming support in our respective chambers. Workers in every district want to see these bills pass.

“This is an opportunity to rise above the fray, embrace common-sense solutions, and show the people we represent true bipartisan solutions are still very possible.”