(LANSING, Mich.) – The Michigan Chamber released the following statement from Wendy Block, senior vice president of business advocacy, after the Michigan Legislature sent House Bill 4002 and Senate Bill 8, fixing the Earned Sick Time and minimum wage laws, to the Governor’s desk late Thursday:
“Job providers across Michigan can breathe a little easier after the Michigan Legislature passed important fixes just under the Feb. 21 deadline to the onerous Earned Sick Time Act and minimum wage laws.
“The policy put in place by virtue of a judicial activist approach by the Michigan Supreme Court would have quite simply devastated Michigan’s economy. However, we have long been optimistic that a bipartisan mix of votes existed in the House and Senate to make these laws more workable and implementable. While a paid leave mandate and higher minimum wage may sound good on paper, the proposals as written were fraught with ambiguities, administrative challenges and unintended consequences that would have led to businesses closing and jobs being lost.
“We appreciate Speaker Hall’s leadership on this important issue as he ensured negotiating a compromise was kept at the forefront of policy priorities. We are pleased by the willingness of policymakers from both sides of the aisle to listen and find more feasible solutions that work for businesses and employees alike.”