Michigan’s Path to $15: Supreme Court Affirms Wage Hike, Delays Tipped Worker Pay Reform

Michigan’s minimum wage is on a steady path to reach nearly $15 by 2028. The state Supreme Court has made it clear: this raise is not just an idea but a reality, responding to a long-standing debate on fair pay. In its recent order, the court also extended the timeline for eliminating the tipped wage, a change that had servers and bartenders both hopeful and concerned. By pushing the phase-out to 2030, Michigan continues its march toward a more balanced pay structure while acknowledging the complexity of this shift for business owners. Justice Elizabeth Welch, writing on behalf of the court, clarified that the adjustments don’t alter the essence of their earlier ruling. Michigan officials, guided by the court, will proceed with raising the minimum wage, starting with an increase to $12.48 in 2025, and step-by-step adjustments until it hits $14.97 in 2028. The decision also directs a slower phase-out of the tipped minimum wage, moving the timeline back by a year, with the final wage parity now set for 2030. Restaurant owners and business leaders haven’t been silent. Many are pushing back hard, concerned that these increases will have long-lasting effects on their operations. The term “nightmare” has come...