**PRESS RELEASE** SMALL BUSINESSES, WORKERS WORRY ABOUT MOUNTING JOB LOSSES WITH BALLOT AMENDMENT 2’S PASSAGE

**PRESS RELEASE**

SMALL BUSINESSES, WORKERS WORRY ABOUT MOUNTING JOB LOSSES WITH BALLOT AMENDMENT 2’S PASSAGE

TALLAHASSEE — Florida small business owners and workers expressed grave concern with the passage of Ballot Amendment 2 on Tuesday, which mandates a minimum wage hike of $15 for employees, putting jobs at risk and businesses in jeopardy of closing.

The amendment, funded at the ballot by millionaire trial lawyer John Morgan, is similar to initiatives that have been adopted in liberal cities across the United States, including Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago and Washington, D.C. This initiative has proven to kill jobs, cut hours and close businesses.

“Given the devastating impacts COVID-19 has already had on Florida’s economy, we are extremely worried about the job losses and business closures that will accompany this mandate,” said Carol Dover, President & CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, which represents thousands of businesses that will be impacted by the excessive minimum wage hike. “We are proud of our small business owners and employees from across the state who came together to fight this amendment. We have seen too many places across the country that have implemented this wage hike, only to see workers who were promised more money instead lose their jobs altogether. We are worried about our small businesses and the Floridians who will lose their jobs.”

An economic impact study revealed Florida has already lost 336,000 jobs due to COVID-19, and Ballot Amendment 2 will kill another 158,000 jobs.

“We have stood hand in hand with our workers to fight Ballot Amendment 2,” said John Horne a small business owner in Manatee County. “For months, we have tried to educate the public about the negative impacts this would have on our industry and on other jobs across the Sunshine State. The outcome of this election does not change our concerns, but we’ll work with our team and across the industry to keep fighting to stay alive and save as many jobs as we can.”

Amendment 2 Hurts You is a campaign to raise awareness for the consequences of Ballot Amendment 2 on small businesses, workers and the economy. Learn more:

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