ISHPEMING, Mich. (WZMQ) – On Tuesday, at the West End Economic Hub in Ishpeming, information was presented to local business owners on the recently passed Earned Sick Time Act. The bill pushes for smaller businesses to grant their employees more paid sick time, as well as accelerating the increase of minimum wage in Michigan to 15 dollars by 2027. The Flagstar Bank of Ishpeming and the payroll company Paychex worked together to create the learning event after the bill was passed by Governor Whitmer on February 21.
Newly enacted law states that small businesses with 10 employees or less are to accrue a minimum of 40 hours of paid sick time to their workers each year. A key issue for these businesses is whether their part-time employees can accumulate enough hours for sick time throughout the year, especially when compared to full-time employees working full weeks to earn the same amount of sick time.
Katelyn Gage, branch leader of the Ishpeming Flagstar Bank said, “The biggest thing we’ve learned is that you have to make sure you’re being compliant and to make sure you have a policy in place that will protect yourself and your employees.” The Earned Sick Time Act compares to the Paid Medical Leave Act of 2018, bringing similar requirements to a smaller business scale.
More information can be found at Michigan.gov.
