On July 31, 2024, the Michigan Supreme Court issued a decision
that significantly changes the state's paid sick leave and
minimum wage requirements. In Mothering Justice v.
Attorney General, the Court determined that a procedure
used by the Michigan legislature with respect to the current
versions of Michigan's paid sick leave and minimum wage laws is
unconstitutional, thereby reverting the laws back to the original
ballot initiative versions, which differ significantly from current
law.
In 2018, the Michigan legislature adopted two ballot initiatives
as law, and then extensively amended them in the same legislative
session, ultimately implementing laws that are very different from
the original initiative. One ballot initiative, the Improved
Workforce Opportunity Wage Act (IWOWA) proposed changes to
Michigan's minimum wage requirements, increasing the minimum
wage generally and eliminating a longstanding exception for tipped
employees, among other changes.
