Michigan Republicans Go After Paid Sick Leave

LANSING, Mich. — Since regaining control of the State House, Republicans in Michigan made going after guaranteed paid sick leave for all employees a priority. As recently as 2018, Republicans blocked voter-backed efforts to ensure all workers are guaranteed paid sick leave. In February, lawmakers passed a Republican-proposed bill that weakens a previously planned expansion of paid sick leave.

Research shows that allowing workers to take time off when they are sick benefits employers, workers and their families. Workers who have access to sick leave are less likely to need expensive emergency room visits. Staying home while ill prevents the spread of contagious diseases, like measles, but federal law does not require employers to provide sick time.

In 2018, Michigan's Republican-controlled legislature adopted a citizen-led ballot initiative to require all employers provide paid sick leave but in the process, lawmakers watered down the proposed policy. This move sparked controversy and legal challenges. In 2024, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the legislature's actions violated the state constitution's guarantee of citizens' right to introduce legislation through petitions.

This year, Republican Majority Leader Rep. Bryan Posthumous stated that Michigan Republicans intended to “go after and address” the issues with earned sick time which he said are “plaguing our state.” 

Less than two months into the legislative session, the legislature has successfully passed a bill addressing paid sick leave. This bill is mostly in line with the original policy to require all employers to provide paid sick time off to employees.

Republican lawmakers excluded certain workers, like part-time and seasonal workers, from these protections in their new version, unlike the previous one brought by voters. Newly passed HB 4002 also excludes federal government workers, independent contractors, unpaid interns, and employees under the age of 18 from the requirements.