19-02-2025
With paid sick time law set to take effect, lawmakers have days to reach deal
CEDAR SPRINGS, Mich. (WOOD) — Michigan lawmakers have just days to reach a deal before the state requires small and large businesses to offer paid sick time to all employees.
While lawmakers preserving the tipped wage for restaurant workers, they have until Friday to reach a compromise on paid sick time. If they don't, the state will require businesses with 10 or more employees to provide up to 72 hours of paid sick leave a year. Smaller businesses would need to provide at least 40 hours.
Servers cheer Michigan Senate's tipped wage 'compromise'
The changes, known as the Earned Sick Time Act, will go into effect after from the Michigan Supreme Court. The new law would also allow employees to miss work for three days at a time without calling their employer.
Ryan Sebolt, the director of government affairs for the Michigan AFL-CIO, previously told News 8 workers should be able to focus on getting better or helping their loved ones.
'Medical emergencies happen,' he said. 'Nobody's thought, 'Oh no, I have to call my boss in the next 10 minutes.' I think it's important to realize life isn't always planned out.'
Business owners worry the way the law is designed, it would put them in a tough spot with staffing.
'No one is against the spirits of these initiatives,' said David Ringler, the owner of Cedar Springs Brewing Company.
New paid sick time law worries business owners
For the last decade, Ringler has been serving up German beer in Cedar Springs, just over a 20 minute drive from Grand Rapids.
'Small business owners such as myself, we've mortgaged our homes and we've bet our kids' future on being able to create something that was going to last,' he said.
Ringler has followed the latest news out of Lansing for the last several months. He said he's felt frustrated that small business voices like his aren't being heard.
'With small businesses, we're the chief floor sweeper, the chief toilet washer and we're HR,' he said. 'These are all things we're having to work and keep up on.'
He said the law, if left unchanged, wouldn't allow businesses to set policies that are right for them and their own employees.
'The version the way it is reduces a lot of flexibility,' he said. 'That may eliminate PTO or flexible time for a lot of small businesses that just can't facilitate both.'
If the changes go through as planned, he's worried small businesses won't be able to survive.
'You're going to start to see places that just can't do it,' he said. 'And I can't say for certain what our future is.'
The costs are often passed onto consumers, he said. But he fears some businesses wouldn't be able to raise prices.
'In small communities like this, it's very difficult to raise prices because people are resistant to it,' he said. 'I don't blame them. Everything costs more, we see when we go to the grocery store.'
Alarmed over what will happen if lawmakers won't reach a deal, he's already been working on updating his employee handbook. He may have to do it again if the law is adjusted.
'We have to now wait to the very last minute before we can reform any policies that need to be reformed or make any changes,' he said.
Speaking in favor of the new law, Sebolt that this is 'about treating people with dignity of being human beings.'
'I think every parent out there knows the panic of having a sick kid and not being able to take care of their kid when they're sick, being able to take care of themselves when they're sick or being able to take care of one of their parents when they're sick,' he said.
Union: 'Every worker deserves' benefits of pending paid sick time law
The GOP-led House already passed legislation that would exempt small businesses with fewer than 50 employees from the changes. That represents the majority of businesses in Michigan. Cedar Springs Brewing Company has about 30 workers, so it would be exempt as well. The Democrat-led Senate has been working on a modified version of the plan.
Democrat and Republican leaders have both told reporters they're optimistic they'll reach a deal after the tipped wage compromise came through.
In a , the Michigan AFL-CIO asked lawmakers to respect the Michigan Supreme Court's ruling. The group said the law would guarantee paid sick leave for nearly 1.5 million people.
'Allow the minimum wage to increase and guarantee all workers have the ability to take care of themselves and their families when they are sick,' the group said.
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