This important step was only possible due to the leadership of Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago City Council, who in October 2023 ushered in fair wage legislation to raise tipped
worker wages to at least the full minimum wage with tips on top. Small business employers in Chicago who felt compelled to raise wages to recruit and retain staff during the pandemic led the fight to win One Fair Wage in the Windy City and played a major role in the ultimate passage of the bill. The national
decline in tipping averages post pandemic, combined with the increased cost of living, has compelled many restaurant employers in Chicago and statewide in Illinois to voluntarily raise pay to recruit and retain staff and generally make it worth working in restaurants.