Governor Whitmer Proposes Delay of Wage and Paid Leave Laws to Push for a Deal

As the February 21, 2025 deadline looms for changes to Michigan’s minimum wage and earned sick time laws, Governor Gretchen Whitmer has suggested an extension as Senate Democrats and House Republicans have been unable to reach a deal on possible revisions. Yesterday, February 12, Governor Whitmer requested moving the deadline to July 1, 2025 if both sides of the aisle have not come to an agreement by the end of this week.

The new laws will require all Michigan employers to provide sick leave to employees and increase the state's minimum wage to nearly $15 an hour by 2028 and set the hourly base wage for tipped employees to the standard minimum wage by 2030. However, the House and Senate to date still have dueling proposed changes to the laws—an impasse that prompted the governor to step in and encourage a bipartisan compromise.

As our team continues to monitor ongoing negotiations in the legislature, we encourage you to proceed putting wage and sick leave policies in place. The effective date has not yet been changed, so be prepared to comply with the new laws on February 21.

We will continue to send updates as we receive them. If you have any questions or concerns about how to prepare for these changes in the meantime, contact a member of Foster Swift’s Employer Services Practice Group.