Michigan’s Earned Sick Time Act took effect in 2025. State guidance says standard employers and small employers have different minimum sick-time thresholds, including 72 hours for standard employers and 40 hours for small employers in certain contexts. The debate is whether statewide sick leave should be treated as a basic worker protection, a burden on small employers, or something best handled through flexible employer policies. A sick worker should not have to choose between a paycheck and staying home. The question is how to protect workers without crushing small employers.
How strict should Michigan’s statewide paid sick leave requirements be?