More than six years ago, committees gathered enough petition signatures to put minimum wage and sick leave proposals on the ballot in November 2018. However, Republican lawmakers adopted the measures before Election Day, keeping them off the ballot, and then returned after Election Day to significantly weaken the requirements.

Michigan tipped workers just saw the single-largest raise to their wages in state history. But it could have been higher.

In the final hours before Michigan's minimum wage was set to increase, lawmakers passed two bills that aimed to increase wages at a slightly slower rate.

Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed a compromise that scales back paid sick leave and wages for tipped workers in an effort to appease businesses following a minimum wage hike.

As part of a phased-in increase, the state's minimum wage will eventually increase to $15 an hour in the coming years.

Changes have been made to Michigan’s minimum wage, tipped wage, and sick time laws. Two bills to amend Michigan’s minimum wage, tipped wage, and sick time laws were signed into law by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. The bills go into effect immediately and are retroactive.

The $4.01 tipped wage, 38% of the minimum, rose to $4.74. It will go up 2 percentage points a year, including to $5.49 in 2026 and to $6.30 in 2027, until reaching 50% in 2031. It had been scheduled to ultimately equal the regular minimum wage by 2030, but the restaurant industry persuaded legislators to halt that move.

The Michigan House passed Senate Bill 8 69-40 on Wednesday, less than a week after the state Senate passed it.