The Michigan Chamber filed an amicus brief with the Michigan Supreme Court (“court”) last week, requesting that the court issue an advisory opinion on the constitutionality of legislation passed in 2018 to amend Michigan’s paid sick leave and minimum wage laws. The Court will hear oral arguments on this case on July 17, 2019.
This court was asked by the Michigan House and Senate to issue an advisory opinion on the constitutionality of the laws after the Attorney General was asked to issue an AG opinion on the matter. Given that an unfavorable AG opinion could have turned the laws on their heads (i.e., allowed the state to enforce the original ballot proposals mandating a four-step $12 minimum wage and a 72-hour sick no call, no-show leave mandate), the Legislature asked the court to review the matter to bring clarity to the state law and to avoid protracted litigation.
Unless the court issues an unfavorable advisory opinion in the fall, employers should comply with the law as amended. These changes went into effect on March 29.
Click on the links below for compliance information on the paid sick leave and minimum wage laws.
Michigan’s New Minimum Wage Law
Michigan’s New Paid Sick Leave Law
Please contact Wendy Block with any questions at wblock@michamber.com.