A new WDIV/Detroit News survey asked voters to weigh in on a Michigan Supreme Court ruling that led to changes to the state’s minimum wage requirements.
The WDIV/Detroit News survey was conducted between Aug. 26 and Aug. 29, 2024. It found that a majority of Michigan voters support the Supreme Court’s ruling that an adopt-and-amend strategy was unconstitutional.
---> Explainer: What Michigan’s Supreme Court ruling means for minimum wage, sick time
Adopt-and-amend ruling explained
A majority of Michigan voters showed support for a Michigan Supreme Court ruling that found an adopt-and-amend strategy used by the Republican-led Legislature to scale back minimum wage and sick time laws was unconstitutional.
In 2018, proposals that would have raised the minimum wage, required sick time, and phased out the subminimum wage were supposed to go to the voters. Instead of allowing the proposals to go to the ballot, Michigan’s Republican-led Legislature passed them without any changes.
Then, after the election, and in the same Legislative session, they voted to substantially scale back the laws and make changes that were requested by a business lobby that criticized the new requirements.
In July, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the State Legislature could adopt the proposed ballot initiative before it went to the voters, but the same legislature could not change the initiative after they adopted it. The court ruled that future legislatures could make changes to the initiative in different years.
The survey found that 55.8% support the Supreme Court’s ruling and 24.4% oppose the Supreme Court’s ruling that the State Legislature cannot adopt an initiative before going to voters and then change it during the same session.
Here’s a break down of the data:
- 36.6% Strongly support
- 19.2% Somewhat support
- 8.3% Somewhat oppose
- 16.1% Strongly oppose
- 19.7% Neither/ Neutral/ Don’t Know/ Refused
Minimum wage
A majority of Michigan voters showed support for a Michigan Supreme Court ruling that found an adopt-and-amend strategy used by the Republican-led Legislature to scale back minimum wage laws was unconstitutional.
As of January 1, 2024, Michigan’s minimum wage is $10.33 an hour. The ruling means on Feb. 21, 2025, Michigan’s minimum hourly wage will be $10.00 plus the state treasurer’s inflation adjustment -- an estimated total increase of around $12.50. By 2028, Michigan’s minimum wage could be around $15.
The survey found that 66.5% support the Supreme Court’s decision to immediately increase Michigan’s minimum wage to $12.50 and then $15.00 and tie the minimum wage to inflation and 30.0% opposed the decision.
Here’s a break down of the data:
- 51.5% Strongly support
- 15.0% Somewhat support
- 11.1% Somewhat oppose
- 18.9% Strongly oppose
- 3.6% Neither/ Neutral/ Don’t Know/ Refused
The Michigan Department of Treasury is waiting for clarification from the court on how to implement the minimum wage changes. Once they have clarification, the state will offer more information on what to expect.
This could still change, but here is how the Treasury intends to approach the minimum wage increases:
| Year | Minimum wage |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $12.48 |
| 2026 | $13.29 |
| 2027 | $14.16 |
| 2028 | $14.97 |
Subminimum wage
A majority of Michigan voters showed support for a Michigan Supreme Court ruling that found an adopt-and-amend strategy used by the Republican-led Legislature to scale back minimum-wage laws was unconstitutional.
Currently, minimum wage for tipped workers is at $3.93 per hour as long as they earn enough in tips that they make the minimum wage. If they do not make minimum wage, the employer must make up the difference to equal minimum wage.
The ruling means the subminimum wage for tipped workers will be phased out and will no longer exist after Feb. 21, 2029. Employers will be required to pay tipped employees the full state minimum wage before they receive tips.
The survey found that 45.8% support removing the tip credit and requiring all restaurant and bar employees to earn $15 even if they are getting tips and 40.6% oppose removing the tip credit.
Here’s a break down of the data:
- 30.5% Strongly support
- 15.3% Somewhat support
- 15.0% Somewhat oppose
- 25.6% Strongly oppose
- 13.7% Neither/ Neutral/ Don’t Know/ Refused
How Michigan voters feel about tipping
The survey found that 52% of Michigan voters feel that the amount of times they are asked to tip is about right, but 41.9% said the amount of times they are asked to tip is too much. Only 1.5% said they think the amount of times they are asked to tip is too little and 4.7% either didn’t have an answer or refused to answer the question.
Will tipping habits change?
Michigan voters were asked the following question: If all employees in a restaurant or bar are making $15 per hour, will that change how much you tip or will your tipping be the same?
They survey found that 44.8% of people said they would tip the same and 45.3% would tip less.
Here is a break down of the data:
- 0.8% Tip more
- 45.3% Tip less
- 44.8% Tip the same
- 9.1% Don’t Know/ Depends/ Refused
Poll methodology
The Glengariff Group, Inc. conducted a Michigan statewide survey of November 2024 likely general election voters. The 600 sample, live operator telephone survey was conducted on August 26-29, 2024 and has a margin of error of +/-4.0% with a 95% level of confidence. 16.6% of respondents were contacted via landline telephone. 83.4% of respondents were contacted via cell phone telephone. This survey was commissioned by WDIV Local 4 News and the Detroit News.