NFIB/NY State Director Mike Durant last week sent a letter to the Commissioner of Labor and the Hospitality Industry Wage Board explaining opposition to modification of New York’s tipped minimum wage.
Earlier this year, Governor Cuomo tasked the three member board with making a recommendation to the Commissioner of Labor on whether or not the tipped wage for food service and hospitality workers should be increased. The Commissioner of Labor will accept or revise the board’s recommendation and issue a final determination by February 2015.
From high energy taxes and rising costs in healthcare to the fluctuating cost of foods, the struggle for many small employers in the food and hospitality services industry is real. In an industry that has tight margins, any state mandated increases in labor costs will result in fewer hours and fewer jobs, as small businesses express reluctance to increase prices for consumers.
