Livingston Today

State Representative Ann Bollin has cast her vote in favor of a bipartisan agreement aimed at preserving Michigan's tip credit system, establishing fair earned sick time policies, and ensuring stability for small businesses and their employees. The compromise involves Senate Bill 8 and House Bill 4002, designed to balance worker protection with support for Michigan's job providers.

The agreement follows extensive negotiations between House Republicans and Senate Democrats, finalized just before the February 21 deadline set by a Michigan Supreme Court ruling. "This is a huge win for Michigan’s small businesses and the hardworking men and women they employ," Bollin stated. She emphasized that servers and bartenders expressed strong support for maintaining the tip credit system.

Senate Bill 8 maintains the current tip credit at 38% through 2025, with gradual increases leading to a cap of 50% of the minimum wage by 2031. It also enforces stricter penalties on employers who fail to compensate employees properly.

House Bill 4002 revises Michigan’s Earned Sick Time Act to offer flexible leave options while acknowledging challenges faced by small businesses. The bill protects businesses from unfounded lawsuits and addresses no-call, no-show absences that could impact staffing in critical sectors like emergency services.

Bollin acknowledged the timing of negotiations but expressed satisfaction with the outcome: "It’s unfortunate that negotiations went down to the wire, but I’m proud we put politics aside to get this done." She highlighted that this solution supports thousands of workers in Michigan while respecting small business operations.