CMV: Michigan One Fair Wage disproportionately hurts immigrant and minority owned businesses and hurts low-wage workers.

Michigan One Fair Wage is a ballot initiative that seeks to eliminate the sub-minimum wage for tipped employees. One Fair Wage has already been implemented in some form in several states and cities, including Seattle and New York City. Advocates argue that by eliminating tipping culture and increasing wages, low-wage workers are more likely to be paid a fair wage and less likely to be subject to wage theft or sexual harassment.<br><br>However, those in favor of the tipped minimum wage point to statistics showing that One Fair Wage disproportionately hurts immigrant and minority business owners. In Michigan, the tipped minimum wage is $3.52, which is 38% of the regular minimum wage. Employers are required to ensure that their employees make at least the regular minimum wage of $9.87 when tips and wages are combined, and must pay employees the difference if they do not meet this threshold.<br><br>Examples of One Fair Wage going wrong, include a Washington restaurant owner who is of Asian descent who is struggling to pay his employees the increased wage and is facing fines and penalties from the state as a result. He hired a lawyer to help navigate the situation. In Michigan, the owner of La Lanterna restaurant in Capitol Park (a black, immigrant-owned and operated business) has said that she will be forced to close her business if One Fair Wage passes, and has spoken to other minority restaurant owners who plan to do the same.<br><br>In a study completed by the National Bureau of Economic Research in New York City, tipped employees saw no change in their wages and employers experienced a significant decrease in their bottom line. This resulted in the closure of several restaurants that were unable to sustain the financial burden.<br><br>In Seattle, an audit of One Fair Wage found that minority owned businesses had a significantly higher rate of citations, fines, and penalties than white-owned businesses. The study found that One Fair Wage disproportionately hurts immigrant and minority owned businesses and hurts low-wage workers by decreasing the viability and sustainability of businesses who rely on tips.<br><br>CMV: One Fair Wage disproportionately hurts immigrant and minority owned businesses and hurts low-wage workers.<br><br>Edit: Wow. The hate and bigotry that I have encountered in this sub is astounding. As a lawyer working in the court system and particularly with low wage and tipped workers, I am disappointed by the lack of empathy and understanding of both workers and business owners. I am disappointed, but not surprised.