On February 21, 2025, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Senate Bill 8 and House Bill 4002 into law, making key amendments to Michigan’s Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA) which went into effect immediately. Of note here is the expansion of paid sick leave standards as it pertains to how employees may use their accrued sick days to support either their own mental or physical health or that of their family members.

Under the law, all Michigan employers that have 1 or more employee(s), excluding employees of the U.S. government, are obligated to comply

While the start date for most employers went into immediate effect, the start date for “small business” employers with 10 or fewer U.S. employees will be later.

The exact timing in which “small business” employers will need to comply is defined in further detail in the FAQs, which notes that many employers who fall into this category will need to comply as early as October 1, 2025. However, “small business” employers that did not employ any employees on or before February 21, 2022 are not required to comply with the law until 3 years after the date that the employer first employs another employee.