June 14, 2024

New York Tipped Employees Prefer the Current Tipping System to Flat Wage Alternatives

New York’s legislature adjourned last week, meaning two bills aiming to eliminate the state’s tip credit have an uncertain future until the session reopens in January. Anti-tip credit activists are now urging candidates to make tip credit elimination part of their campaigns ahead of the November election. But here’s a…
June 7, 2024

Michigan Minimum Wage Ballot Measure Goes Against “Econ 101”

Last Friday, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled against a One Fair Wage-backed ballot measure that would have raised Michigan’s minimum wage to $15 per hour, and eliminated the state’s tip credit. The proposed measure originally stalled with the state’s Board of Canvassers after the petition’s language was changed from the…
May 31, 2024

What’s the Status of State Minimum Wage Proposals?

This spring, several states saw bills and ballot measures to raise their minimum wages or eliminate their tip credits for tipped restaurant employees. EPI has been active at the state and local level warning against the adverse consequences of these measures, particularly for affected employees who may lose their jobs,…
May 24, 2024

93% of Tipped Workers Say They Prefer Ohio’s Current Tipping System

Activists in Ohio are gathering signatures in support of a ballot measure proposing a $15 minimum wage with full tip credit elimination. Tipped workers are not pushing for this change, but if certified, could be on the ballot before voters in November. A new survey of nearly 1,000 tipped employees…
May 17, 2024

Preview: California’s Fast Food $20 Wage Has Already Cost Jobs

California’s ill-advised $20 fast food industry minimum wage has been in place for just over a month, and has already triggered negative consequences for small restaurant owners, employees, and customers. Labor economists largely agree that such a drastic wage increase (from $16 per hour on January 1 up to $20…
May 10, 2024

EPI Warns California: West Hollywood is A Cautionary Tale On Sky-High Minimum Wages

This week, One Fair Wage organizers called for California to make the $20 minimum wage currently just for fast food employees apply statewide. Yet the group’s demands don’t line up with the consequences restaurants, employees, and residents are feeling through job losses, price hikes, and closure of local eateries. This…
May 3, 2024

CA Service Charge Ban Will Only Exacerbate Existing Pain for Restaurants

This week, California Attorney General Rob Bonta appeared to settle a months-long debate over whether or not restaurants will be subject to a newly enacted law banning “junk fees.” Bonta’s office said automatic service charges on restaurant checks would not be permitted under the law in a statement to…
April 26, 2024

Oklahoma $15 Wage Ballot Measure Could Kill Over 12,000 Jobs

After a delay in the state courts, an Oklahoma ballot proposal for a statewide $15 minimum wage has received a green light to move forward. The measure requires roughly 92,000 signatures to qualify for November’s ballot. If it passes this mark, it will be up for voters to decide. If…
April 16, 2024

New England Data Suggests Rhode Island Should Maintain Its Current Tip Credit

Economic analysis spanning decades of data shows raising tipped minimum wage requirements (slashing tip credits) brings consequences for servers’ and bartenders’ jobs and income, and restaurants’ ability to keep their doors open. Recently, anti-tip credit activists have targeted various states across the country, including several neighboring states in New England.
April 12, 2024

D.C. Tipped Worker Warns New York, Other States Against Tip Credit Elimination

It’s no secret tip credit elimination has already wreaked havoc on the nation’s capital: employment is down in full-service restaurants, tips are disappearing, and restaurants are looking for ways to move out or change their operations. Yet the same activists are looking to bring the same bad policy around the…