Changes are coming to Michigan’s minimum wage and sick time requirements after a major ruling from the state’s highest court.

There is a new push to slow Michigan’s minimum wage hike for tipped workers after a bill was introduced on Tuesday.

A significant decision out of the Michigan Court of Claims that could potentially put a $12 an hour minimum wage into effect and require paid sick leave.

Restaurants have suffered throughout the entire COVID pandemic and this recent omicron surge is also hurting business.

Restaurants have suffered throughout the entire COVID pandemic and this recent omicron surge is also hurting business.

Have you been to one of your favorite restaurants lately and noticed a burned-out, understaffed group of workers? They’re not alone.

Michigan is lifting all of its COVID restrictions for capacity, masks and gatherings next week.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer officially revealed Michigan’s new accelerated timeline Thursday for eliminating COVID restrictions and returning to normal.

LANSING, Mich. – Tuesday’s announcement that Michigan restaurants are able to increase their indoor dining capacity comes as good news for establishments that have now had to deal with two shutdowns since the pandemic started. “Today (Tuesday), we are announcing that restaurants and bars can operate at 50% capacity. READ: Michigan loosens COVID restrictions on restaurants -- here are all the detailsAd“It’s encouraging, it’s very encouraging,” said Nikola’s BBQ manager, Velko Milosevich. “I’m just hopeful by summer, things will return to normal. The Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association issued a statement on the updated restriction:

Frustrated that restaurants are still at 25% capacity for indoor dining, the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association (MRLA) released a plan to get restaurants back on stable financial ground that uses COVID positivity rates to determine restaurant density. Michigan’s current COVID positivity rate is just over 3%, which according to the plan from MRLA, would allow for 50% density. MRLA CEO Justin Winslow said restaurants that have reopened under the current 25% rule are doing it primarily to remind customers that they are still open. READ: 11 takeaways from Whitmer’s COVID update: Variant spreading, Michigan vaccinations, relief moneyAdAmato said the restaurant is more than a small business to her. “I think it’s time and this industry is owed some more concrete planning from the administration that can be driven by data.”READ MORE:

Maloney turned down a request for an injunction with a week left in the three-week indoor dining ban. Restaurants predict that the steady loss of customers could put many of them out of business. Whitmer said about chance of Michigan’s stricter COVID-19 rules extending past 3 weeksThe MRLA and some restaurants sued the state health director. They said they can safely provide indoor dining and were being treated unfairly when compared to other businesses. The health director offered six key things that medical professionals know about the virus right now:

UPDATE: Andiamo owner backtracks: ‘We have never and will never defy mandated orders’“This industry is hanging on by a thread,” Rosalie Vicari said. Rosalie and her husband Joe Vicari own the Vicari restaurant group, with high-end restaurants like Joe Muer Seafood, Brownies On The Lake and multiple Andiamo Italian restaurants. Their new letter called on Metro Detroit restaurants to band together at a meeting this week. Restaurants said the order to close dining rooms is unconstitutional and not supported by science. Yet, restaurants are closed and we just don’t understand that,” Rosalie Vicari said.

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association (MRLA) has filed a lawsuit against Robert Gordon, in his capacity as the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) director, to block the ban on dine-in service. Inc. d/b/a Suburban Inns have joined MRLA in the lawsuit. Starting Wednesday and lasting through Dec. 8, Michigan residents will only be able to order takeout from restaurants, unless outdoor seating is available. That is under the Michigan Department of Health and Human Service’s new COVID-19 rules. READ: Why is indoor dining at Michigan restaurants being shut down for 3 weeks despite fewer outbreaks?

DETROIT – Help is available for hospitality workers in Michigan who have temporarily lost their jobs due to coronavirus (COVID-19). The Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association president received a $2.5M grant from the Michigan Department of Treasury to support restaurant and lodging industry workers who were impacted by COVID-19. READ: 19 Michigan businesses fined for serious coronavirus (COVID-19) workplace violations“We are thankful to Governor Whitmer and the Michigan legislators for their support of the state’s hospitality workers. More than half of the 600,000 hospitality workers in Michigan temporarily lost their jobs and too many restaurants across the state were unable to reopen after the shutdown,” said Justin Winslow MRLA President & CEO. Those who apply for funds will need to have proof of hospitality industry employment as of March 10.

The Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association (MRLA) is sounding the alarm on the coming struggle of cold weather business during the coronavirus pandemic. “The hospitality industry in Michigan finds itself in a precarious position this fall as dropping temperatures and mandatory capacity restrictions indoors threaten its very existence,” said Justin Winslow, president & CEO of the MRLA. Despite leading the statewide employment gains this summer, restaurants in Michigan are operating with 1/3 fewer employees than they otherwise at this time of the year. Michigan hotel occupancy rates are down 23.5 percent compared to last year, according to MRLA. In response, MRLA has launched the “Don’t Leave Michigan’s Hospitality Industry Out in the Cold” campaign, including a list of common-sense public policy solutions to help Michigan’s restaurants and hotels survive the transition to a colder, less predictable fall season.