Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA)

Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA)

The status of the ESTA is currently being discussed by the Legislature and is rapidly changing. Updates will be sent in a separate email. Here’s what you need to know to be in compliance on February 21, 2025, IF nothing changes.

IF nothing changes to the current ESTA by the effective date of February 21, 2025, we need you to prepare and be ready to implement Earned Sick Time in your company on February 21, 2025. The MI Chamber of Commerce has developed resources and has granted us permission to share them with you. We’ve put them in this ESTA Toolbox which contains:

1. ESTA Frequently Asked Questions – Providing answers to questions surrounding the Earned Sick Time Act and what you must do to be in compliance. Click HERE for access to this item.

2. ESTA Employer Compliance Worksheet – A step-by-step guide for you to determine what changes you must make to your current policy to be in compliance. Click HERE for access to this item.

3. Current Paid Leave Law vs. ESTA that will be effective February 21, 2025 (unless there is a change) – A side-by-side comparison of the differences between our current Paid Medical Leave Act and the impending ESTA. Click HERE for access to this item.

4. ESTA Sample Notification Letter – A requirement of the ESTA is that all employees must be notified. This is a template that you can use and customize to your company by inserting your Company Name and adjusting where needed to fit your company’s specific nuances. Click HERE for access to this item.

5. ESTA Sample Policy Handbook Language – A customizable template that you can add to your Company Handbook to be in compliance. Click HERE for access to this item.

6. ESTA Poster – In English and in Spanish – A requirement of ESTA is that you post the General Requirements of the Earned Sick Time Act. The posting requirements are: “An employer shall display a poster at the employer's place of business, in a conspicuous place that is accessible to eligible employees”. Click HERE for access to the poster in English. Click HERE for access to the poster in Spanish.

More information can be found at the State of Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity by clicking HERE.

Background: The MNLA joined the Paid Sick Leave/Earned Sick Time Act Coalition back in September and have been meeting with Legislators all over the state at our Town Hall Meetings and Downtown at their offices to express how this is going to hurt our industry. In addition, we’ve attended Committee Meetings/hearings to testify and let them know how bad this is for everyone in our industry. The most current Two-pager (click HERE for access to this item) shows who is on this coalition, which is an all-encompassing list of organizations that represent businesses in pretty much every industry, and the Coalition’s Ask. The Asks aren’t perfect and won’t help our larger members, but knowing the opposition, the coalition figures this is the most we can realistically get changed. The House Bills have passed and are in the Senate now, but they have stalled. The Senate has also introduced Senate Bill 15 that does not contain anything beneficial to our industry. There have been several hearings and negotiations, and we are hoping that the Legislature makes a decision and a solution by Midnight tonight. However, the official posting hasn’t come out yet.