According to the Michigan Earned Sick Time Act that took effect on February 21, 2025, employers are now required to provide a set amount of paid sick days to employees. However, the act does not require employers to pay overtime, holiday pay, tips, etc. for sick days that are used by employees.

As stated in the current House Bill 4002 of 2025, which amends the 2018 Earned Sick Time Act:

"(8) An employer shall pay each employee using paid earned sick time at a pay rate equal to the greater of either the normal hourly wage or base wage for that employee or the minimum wage established under the improved workforce opportunity wage act, 2018 PA 337, MCL 408.931 to 408.945, but not less than the minimum wage rate established in section 4 of the improved workforce opportunity wage act, 2018 PA 337, MCL 408.934. This act does not require an employer to include overtime pay, holiday pay, bonuses, commissions, supplemental pay, piece-rate pay, tips, or gratuities in the calculation of an employee's normal hourly wage or base wage." (underline added)

This means that Michigan hourly and non-exempt salary employees stand to lose hundreds of dollars simply because they may need to take a sick day to provide for themselves or another family member. This adversely creates situations where workers may choose not use sick days because they need the overtime pay to provide for their families. Why give employees paid sick days if employees will actually lose money by using the sick days? This makes no sense and it does not benefit the employee.

Here's an illustration. Let's say John Smith earns $23.38/hour (which is the average Michigan hourly wage as of August 2025) and works a minimum of 40 hours per week, with 10 hours of overtime per week. If John Smith works 10 hour days for 5 days a week, John would gross $1,285.90 per week ($2,571.80 if paid bi-weekly). Now, let's say John gets sick on Thursday and cannot go into work for the rest of the week. He decides to use 16 hours of paid sick leave to cover Thursday and Friday. According to the current law, John will only earn $1,075.48 for that week ($2361.38 bi-weekly, assuming he only takes two sick days). By using his sick days, John loses out on $210.42 for that pay period!

Losing out on that much can greatly affect many households that rely on overtime pay to afford their needs. Help make Michigan a better place to live and work by signing this petition and spreading the word to as many people as possible!