This past week, I voted yes on House Bills 4001 and 4002. The policies this package of bills responds to were conceived and designed nearly a decade ago, pre-pandemic. They have been caught up in the court system ever since. This summer, the Michigan Supreme Court handed down a decision requiring the implementation of the original policies starting February 21, 2025. 

The concerns these bills address are real. The wages and benefits that many Michiganders earn pose challenges for individuals, families and communities just trying to make ends meet. It’s time to revisit and improve these policies to align with today’s needs. However, the one-size-fits-all approach in the original legislation may seriously harm our businesses, especially small, local businesses and nonprofits just as they are getting back above water after the pandemic. 

Small businesses and community organizations are the backbone of our communities. They operate in a very personal way. Employers and employees join together to support one another in times of need and celebration. They provide critical community services, from a place to meet up with friends for a pint of local beer, a good meal or a cup of coffee to a plowed driveway on an early winter morning to child care or casework that brings a family closer to self-sufficiency. 

Many mom-and-pop shops operate in communities of lesser opportunity. They provide jobs close to home with steady wages that often include benefits of some level. They provide what they can to balance a positive work environment with what they can afford to maintain their business. The policies set to take effect in February force every business into the same system, regardless of size or revenue. These policies do not allow independent businesses to create policies and benefits that employees may prefer, such as a bank of sick days or a lower number of paid days off combined with insurance or retirement. They also require onerous reporting that many small businesses, lacking sophisticated HR systems, cannot accommodate.

While HB 4001 and 4002 are not perfect, voting yes assures that they pass to the Senate so the legislative process can continue. I look forward to a final set of bills that respects and values both workers and small business owners across the state.

Yours in Service,

State Representative Carol Glanville

District 84