Two major policies going into effect in Michigan on January 1, 2022
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Come Jan. 1, 2022, two major policies will go into effect in Michigan.
On the first day of 2022, the first minimum wage increase in more than a year will go into effect, with the state instituting a base minimum wage of $9.87, a $0.22 increase from the previous wage of $9.65 per hour.
Tipped hourly employees, such as waiters, will take on an hourly rate of $3.75, up $0.12 from the previous wage. For younger workers in Michigan, ages 16-17, who are making the 85% rate, will now be paid $8.39 per hour.
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For some Michiganders, those increases aren't enough as the prices for necessities like food and housing continue to rise.
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"Personally, I think it should be over the $10 mark," said Hunter Nielsen, who says he hasn't worked a minimum wage job for about a decade. "I think we're at a time now where, especially during this COVID, like people should be getting paid more. It's tougher to work nowadays, and not many people want to work."
If you're on Michigan's auto insurance and it's lapsed, you have just a few hours left to renew your auto insurance before you'll start collecting penalties on Jan. 1. The change is due to the auto insurance reform legislation passed by the state's legislature in 2019.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's office says, so far, an estimated $1 billion in auto insurance savings have already happened in Michigan because of that legislation.
If you aren't able to get your auto insurance coverage back on by Saturday, you may pay for it with a penalty or increased premium.
