On Feb. 20 and 21, 2025, Michigan lawmakers passed two bills addressing an increase to minimum wage, tipped wage and sick time laws. These bills amended existing laws and were signed into law by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Feb. 21.
The bills went into effect immediately and will slowly increase minimum and tipped wages through 2031. The first change happened on Feb. 21, when minimum wage increased from $10.56 an hour to $12.48 an hour. Tipped wages remained 38% of minimum wage but increased to about $4.74.
On Jan. 1, 2026, minimum wage will increase to $13.73, with tipped wages being 40% of that, about $5.49.
Then, on Jan. 1, 2027, it will increase to $15, with tipped wages being 42% of that, about $6.30.
From 2028 onward, the minimum wage will take the previous year’s wage and increase to adjust for inflation. The tipped wage will increase about 2% each year until 2035 when it will be 60% of minimum wage. Minors under 18 will be paid 85% of the minimum wage. For a full chart of the changes brought about by these laws, check out the Michigan General Requirements chart.
These changes come after a several-years long battle. In 2018, the Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act, known as the Wage Act, and the Earned Sick Time Act were put on the Nov. 2018 ballot. These were citizen-led proposals that collected enough signatures to be put on the ballot. They were sponsored by Mothering Justice, Michigan One Fair Wage, and Michigan Time to Care.
However, they did not make it to the ballot because they were preemptively passed by the Republican-led legislature. The same legislature went on to scale them back after they were passed.
In July 2024, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional to amend citizen-led proposals. This reinstated the proposals and made it so they would go into effect Feb. 21, 2025. Neither political party supported the proposals as they were.
This led to Senate Bill 8, as described above, being passed and signed into law.
This bill affects all Michigan employers, including Eastern Michigan University.
Caz Buxton, the Director of Media for EMU Student Government, said they do not know much about the wage increase, nor how it will affect them. They currently earn about $12 an hour, the new minimum wage.
“I’m not sure how the increase affects me," Buxton said. "I just take what they give me.”
Steven Connole, a communications major at EMU, is set to start a new job in mid-March. While it is not an on-campus job, he will be making minimum wage.
“I guess it’s just really nice to be able to make an extra $2," Connole said.
