Minority Leader and Erie County Legislator John Mills is sponsoring a resolution aimed at protecting employers and their workers in the hospitality industry. The resolution, introduced in the Erie County Legislature today, opposes Albany’s efforts to establish minimum wage requirements for miscellaneous industry workers. The companion bills in the New York State Senate and Assembly would eliminate the tipping credit for employers, thereby raising the floor compensation for restaurant and other hospitality industry workers.
“So many small business owners in the hospitality industry struggled to keep their doors open during Covid. Now Albany lawmakers want to increase the minimum wage for employees who are already guaranteed to make at least that with tips. This will increase the cost of everything, making it less affordable for the average person or family to go out to eat,” said Legislator Mills.
Presently in Erie County an employer can pay an employee 66% of the minimum wage if that employee receives tips that would bring them to, or in excess of, minimum wage. The average restaurant worker in New York State currently makes between $18 and $24 per hour after tips.
“As a businessman I know that when costs increase, prices go up or cuts have to be made somewhere. Implementing this ill-conceived wage requirement would negatively impact the service industry, leading to potential cuts in staff, and an increase in prices, which ultimately leads to fewer customers. As a result, tipped workers would likely see a reduction in that compensation. Albany lawmakers continue to propose legislation that’s bad for the economy, bad for business, and bad for New York State,” said Leader Mills.
