Here’s to You Pub ‘N Grub. Courtesy | Sean Callaghan
Bartenders in Hillsdale say they are worried their earnings will drop following a ruling by the state Supreme Court that forces the tipped minimum wage to rise gradually until 2030.
Izabell Gilbert, a waitress and bartender at Rosalie’s in Jonesville said many of her coworkers rely entirely on their tips to provide for their households.
“I understand the fear,” Gilbert said. “If our minimum wage goes up and our tips go down, I know many waitresses, servers, everyone — many of my colleagues who have kids — they can’t really take the loss.”
Michigan’s current minimum wage for employees who receive tips is $3.93. But unless lawmakers make a deal before February, that floor will move up to 48% of the scheduled $12.48 minimum wage, or about six dollars.
However, as the standard minimum wage increases, so will the tipped minimum wage. In February 2028, the tipped minimum wage will be $11.97, according to the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association. In 2030, the tipped minimum wage and the standard minimum wage will become the same, though the rates will be adjusted for inflation.
Bartenders from Rosalie’s, Underdogs, and Here’s to You Pub & Grub who spoke with The Collegian said they were concerned the potential increase in the minimum wage for tipped workers could hurt their take-home pay.
Gilbert said she relies entirely on tips for her wage.
“A good night for me looks to be anywhere between $200-$300, and that’s working about six hours over one shift,” Gilbert said.
Jill Bambacht, a bartender at Here’s to You Pub ‘N Grub, said that if the minimum wage interfered with her tips, she would no longer bartend.
“Waitressing is like a really fun game,” Bambacht said. “It’s like you’re going to win, but it’s still a gamble, and I like the gamble.”
Mackenzie Ward, who has been a bartender for seven years, said raising the minimum wage could also lower standards of service.
“As a server, or as a waitress, it’s a job that’s done based on tips,” Ward said. “If you’re not really good at your job, or if you don’t really tend to your tables that often, then your customer bases your tip toward you based on the job you do.”
Ward, who makes about a dollar more than the state’s tipped minimum wage at Underdogs in Hillsdale, said she is fine with her current hourly wage and depends on her tips to make a living.
“A good night here with only tips is $180 a night,” Ward said. “With minimum wage, probably around $230 working a double shift.”
Ward also said that people would tip less if the minimum wage was raised.
“More people would view it like a Biggby, where you’re getting paid to do your job and your job is serving,” Ward said.
Bambacht said she would rather endure the stress of being a server working for tips than stocking shelves for a minimum wage.
“As busy as you are as a server, that’s as much as you make,” Bambracht said. “It makes me a better server. How good are bartenders going to be if there’s no initiative?”
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