Grand Rapids Chamber helps businesses navigate minimum wage change

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The Grand Rapids Chamber is trying to help businesses navigate changes in the state’s minimum wage and sick paid leave laws.

Starting Feb. 21, 2025, the minimum wage for regular and tipped workers will rise above $12 an hour in Michigan and will continue to increase with inflation adjustments every year through 2028.

Many businesses will also be required to offer paid sick leave to employees.

The changes come after the Michigan Supreme Court ruled 4-3 that an “adopt-and-amend” tactic used by the Republican-controlled Legislature in 2018 was unconstitutional.

On Friday, the Chamber held a webinar with a legal expert at Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge to help answer questions about the minimum wage and paid sick time decisions. This includes how it compares to current law and what businesses should do to prepare.

“A lot of us in associations were tracking that this decision was coming. There were quite a few expectations that it would be something along these lines. But I still think there’s been an overwhelming response of concerns,” said Joshua Lunger, vice president of government affairs with the Grand Rapids Chamber.

Lunger said the chamber is trying to decide how to best move forward, while providing clarity to those who need it.

“Our team’s going to be working with the administration, the Legislature, departments and our other peer associations across the state in trying to get further details,” Lunger said. “And then try to see if there’s a consensus, bipartisan consensus, to fix some of the concerns that we have, particularly for small employers and for those in the service industry.”

He said the Grand Rapids Chamber has already set up meetings with both Democrat and Republican leaders on this issue.

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