Michigan Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA)
Effective: February 21st, 2025
Michigan is replacing it’s existing paid sick leave requirements effective February 21st, 2025. Previously, their paid sick leave was through the Paid Medical Leave Act (PMLA). While the new paid sick leave under the Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA) has many of the same requirements, there are some differences, but in some cases it is not clear how this change will effect employee. The state is expected to give further guidance on this issue.
What is known is that in addition to the previous qualifying reasons for leave, the ESTA will also allow employees to utilize sick leave for any meetings they have to attend for their children’s place of care, as well as attending to a disability or effects of domestic violence/sexual assault on their child.
Under the old PMLA, employees accrued sick leave at a rate of one hour for every 35 hours worked, up to 40 hours a year, and an employer did not have to allow an employee to accrue more than one total hour of sick leave in one calendar week. Under the new ESTA, it is now accrued at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked. Employees can use up to 72 hours in one year, however there is a small business exemption that allows small employers to limit this to 40 hours. If the employee of a small business accrues more than 40 hours, they can use up to 32 hours of unpaid sick leave in that year.
Employers should be on the lookout for the new ESTA requirements as well as guidance from the state about the transition between the old PMLA to ESTA. You can find the decision to instate the ESTA here.
Get day-to-day updates on Michigan Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA) visit the Vida HR Knowledge Center (Vida HR Clients Exclusive).