In the final minutes before the Michigan Earned Sick Time Act
(ESTA) was to take effect, the state house and senate finally
reached a compromise regarding the ESTA. This last-minute amendment
underscores the fluid nature of policymaking, where deadlines serve
not as fixed endpoints but as moments of heightened urgency.
In preparing for the effective date of ESTA, Michigan employers
were readily aware of many of the administrative and other
difficulties in drafting policies that not only complied with the
statute but were workable for their businesses. While the amendment
did not fix everyone's wish list, it made substantial changes
to the statute and had its biggest change on small businesses.
Small employers with 10 or less employees were affected the most.
They have until October 1, 2025, to comply with the new ESTA
requirements. New businesses will have a three-year grace period
after forming to comply with ESTA.
