Great Lakes Wire

NFIB Michigan State Director Amanda Fisher has expressed approval following the passage of House Bills 4001 and 4002 by the state legislature. The bills aim to restore the restaurant server tipped wage and amend the Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA). These changes are scheduled to take effect on February 21, 2025, unless further legislative action is taken.

Fisher stated, "NFIB is grateful to Speaker Hall and all the legislators on both sides of the aisle who voted to help small businesses in Michigan by making common sense changes to ESTA and the tipped wage."

She emphasized that "the changes contained in House Bill 4002 (ESTA) are especially crucial to all small business owners with employees." According to Fisher, numerous small businesses have reported they would need to reduce current leave for many full-time employees in order to comply with ESTA as it stands.

Furthermore, Fisher highlighted concerns regarding resources: "In addition, small businesses neither have the staff nor financial margin to deal with this confusing and punitive act." She urged prompt action from the State Senate "to prevent small employers and their employees from the unintended consequences of the harmful language contained in this ill-conceived policy," praising what she described as "the commonsense changes contained in House Bill 4002."