LANSING, Mich., Dec. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Michigan Chamber of Commerce today issued the following statement after Governor Snyder signed much-needed legislation to improve Michigan's new mandatory paid sick leave and minimum wage laws. The Michigan Chamber and its members have been voicing concerns about both laws since they were adopted by the State Legislature in September.

"We want to thank lawmakers for prioritizing and Governor Snyder for signing this important legislation," said Michigan Chamber President & CEO Rich Studley. "Without these changes, these laws as adopted would have had a negative impact on employee/employer relations and would have taken an economic wrecking ball to Michigan's overall competitiveness."

"The Michigan Chamber delivered powerful advocacy on behalf of members by actively lobbying lawmakers to correct serious flaws in both the paid sick leave and minimum wage laws prior to their March 2019 effective date," noted Jim Holcomb, Executive Vice President & General Counsel for the Michigan Chamber. "We fought for and won commonsense solutions to practical problems on behalf of our members."

"Since day one, the Michigan Chamber has been a fierce advocate for changes to both laws," said Wendy Block, Vice President of Business Advocacy for the Michigan Chamber. "In regard to paid sick leave, our goal was to find a balance between requiring that employees have access to paid sick leave and making the law reasonable, workable and in-line with what the 10 other states with mandatory paid sick leave laws require." 

"Without improvements to the new minimum wage law, Michigan would have had one of the highest minimum wage rates in the country, thereby making our state uncompetitive in the race for jobs and forcing many employers to make tough decisions, including cutting back staffing hours, increasing costs and reducing other investments in employees or their business," Block explained. "The legislation signed into law today is a great victory for the Chamber and our members and will help keep Michigan moving forward."

A summary of legislative improvements to both laws are available on the Michigan Chamber's website:

• Paid Sick Leave 
• Minimum Wage                                     

The Michigan Chamber of Commerce is a statewide business organization representing approximately 6,000 employers, trade associations and local chambers of commerce who employ over one million Michigan residents. The Michigan Chamber represents businesses of every size and type in all 83 counties of the state. The Michigan Chamber was established in 1959 to be an advocate for Michigan's job providers in the legislative, political and legal process.

SOURCE Michigan Chamber of Commerce