By Stan Hogrebe, Haake Manufacturing
At Haake Manufacturing Company, we’ve spent the last 77 years building something we’re proud of – a sheet metal job shop that’s become one of the premier operations in the Midwest. From our home base in De Soto, Mo., we serve a wide range of customers, many of whom are looking to reshore component part manufacturing back to the United States.
We want to keep growing and investing in our community, but mandates like Proposition A are making that harder to do.
In November, Missourians approved Proposition A, which requires businesses to provide paid sick leave and increases Missouri’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026. After 2026, the minimum wage will continue to increase based on the rate of inflation.
The reality is this: Across-the-board mandates like these increase costs for businesses, making it harder to compete not only with overseas manufacturers, but with businesses in other states.
At Haake Manufacturing, we’re focused on staying ahead of the curve. We continually invest in new equipment to keep the shop competitive. Right now, we’re installing a new laser punch machine – an investment of nearly $1.5 million. We’re committed to innovation, and we want to continue rewarding our employees with bonuses, benefits and a positive workplace culture.
However, every dollar we spend complying with unclear mandates is a dollar we can’t invest in our future.
That’s why it’s critical that Missouri legislators pass HB 567. This bill will provide much-needed clarity for business owners. Most importantly, it will allow us to adapt our workplace policies to meet the needs of our employees.
We know how to run our own business, and we know how to treat our employees. That is why many of our employees have remained part of the Haake family for many years. Please contact your legislators and ask them to pass HB 567 to keep Missouri competitive.
