Jwando and Mink’s bill to increase restaurant wages

[Anonymous]

Naturally, this is going to come out of consumers pockets. If this bill passes, it’ll be on top of inflation, shrinkage, “Covid recovery fees”, and I’m sure we’ll still be tipping on top of it too. Eventually, eating out will only be for the wealthy or as a twice a year family event for average earners. As it is, with today’s prices, my family has already cut back to eating out only once every other month.

Don’t get me wrong, I see positives too. If servers are being paid a non tip wage, then I think restaurants should eliminate or make it very clear that no tipping is required.

https://montgomerycountymd.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=169&event_id=15894&meta_id=164270&fs=e&s=cl
Bill 35-23, County Minimum Wage - Tipped Workers, sponsored by Lead Sponsors Councilmembers Jawando and Mink, is scheduled for introduction on September 19, 2023. A public hearing is tentatively scheduled for October 10, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. The bill will be considered jointly by the ECON and HHS Committees.
Bill 35-23 would:
(1)
adjust the calculation of the minimum wage for tipped workers;
(2)
phase out the tip credit amount under the County minimum wage law; and
(3)
generally amend the County minimum wage law.
BACKGROUND
Under current County law, an employer calculating a minimum wage may include within the calculation a "tip credit" for tipped workers. The tip credit represents an amount of the minimum
wage a worker is expected to receive in tips
The current amount of the credit is the hourly minimum wage minus $4.00; or a lesser credit
if the employee or representative of the employee satisties the Executive Director of the Ottice of Human Rights that the emplovee receives a lesser amount in tips
BILL SPECIFICS
The bill would discontinue the tip credit for minimum wage workers as of July 1, 2028.
Leading up to July 1, 2028, the tip credit would be phased out. Specifically, the tip credit amount that the emplover would be able to include as part of the calculation of the minimum wage would not be permitted to exceed the County minimum wage less:
$4.00 per hour, until July 1, 2024;
$6.00 per hour, effective July 1, 2024 until July 1, 2025;
• $8.00 per hour, effective July 1, 2025 until July 1, 2026;
• $10.00 per hour, effective July 1, 2026 until July 1, 2027; and
• $12.00 per hour, effective July 1, 2027 until July 1, 2028