January 20, 2023

Push and Pull: While Some States Seek Further Min Wage Hikes, Others Pull Back

In 2022, record-breaking inflation drilled minimum wages beyond expectations in many states and cities, as seen by new wage rates taking effect January 1 and throughout this new year. Even still, many activists and progressive lawmakers are calling for even higher rates – pushing the boundary on how high minimum…
New York January 13, 2023

Attention Governor Hochul: NY’s Min Wage Growth Has Already Doubled Inflation

As state legislators in New York deliberate on a bill to raise the New York minimum wage even higher statewide, Governor Kathy Hochul has weighed in on the debate. Hochul announced during her 2023 State of the State address that not only should wages rise in the Big Apple, but…
January 6, 2023

New Evidence Suggests “Fair Workweek” Laws Aren’t Helping Workers

Predictive scheduling laws are nothing new – Chicago, New York City, Oregon state, San Francisco, and Seattle have all tried them. In 2023, California cities of Berkeley and Los Angeles will join them. In general, predictive scheduling laws, often referred to as “fair workweek” laws, seek to penalize…
December 23, 2022

What’s on the Docket for Minimum Wages in 2023?

A record number of states are raising their minimum wages in the new year, with more proposals to push for even higher rates. Here’s a rundown of what minimum wage events and proposals to expect in the New Year. In 2023, nearly 90 states and localities are scheduled to…
December 16, 2022

Progressive Claims about New York City’s Minimum Wage Don’t Track with Inflation

A recent New York Times article about New York City’s minimum wage positioned the Empire State as a former leader in minimum wage hikes for the rest of the country. Now, some state lawmakers are joining the rallying cry that the state has fallen behind, as other progressive-controlled cities…
December 9, 2022

A Slanderous Attack on Tipped Workers

Earlier this year, the shareholders of Dine Brands Global (the franchisor of Applebee’s and IHOP) soundly rejected a One Fair Wage-backed proposal in support of eliminating the tipped minimum wage. This loss was just the latest defeat for Restaurant Opportunities Center-affiliate One Fair Wage. In dozens of states and localities–not…
December 2, 2022

Record Inflation Pulls New Year Wage Hikes Higher than Ever

A New Year means new wage hikes for employers around the country to brace for. Throughout 2023, 89 jurisdictions will raise minimum wages, including 29 states, 59 cities and counties (including New York and Oregon’s separate county rates), and Puerto Rico. View a full list of all the new…
Michigan November 18, 2022

Gov. Whitmer is Rightly Concerned: Impacts of a Rising Minimum Wage in Michigan

Before the midterm elections, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer broke with party talking points and expressed concerns that the court-mandated minimum wage hike to $12 per hour would be harmful to small businesses. New state-level analysis confirms this and potential future wage hikes could cost the state tens of thousands…
District of Columbia November 11, 2022

After Passing Initiative 82, D.C. Restaurants and Residents Are Already Concerned

In Washington, D.C.’s election on Tuesday, voters approved Initiative 82 to eliminate the city tip credit and raise the minimum wage for tipped restaurant workers by more than 200%. While the measure itself got significant support at the ballot, D.C. restaurants are warning about the inevitable consequences, and…
November 4, 2022

Study: Economists Say $15 Tipped Wage Will Cost 800K Jobs, $2.2B Earnings

A new study released by the Employment Policies Institute finds state-level $15 tipped minimum wages will cost jobs and earnings for restaurant employees. In next week’s elections, voters in several states will be tasked with choosing whether or not to enact similar wage hikes for tipped employees. The study, conducted…