Michigan Employment Laws for Employers

• Employer coverage: Michigan's minimum wage law applies to employers with 2 or more employees. (Michigan minimum wage law (DOL WHD state minimum wage table, updated July 1, 2026))

  “Michigan Applicable to employers of 2 or more employees Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $13.73”

  “The Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act applies to employees who work in Michigan for employers that have 2 or more employees, 16 years of age and older.”

  dol.gov · michigan.gov · verified Sep 25, 2026 · 2 official sources

• General rule: Michigan's minimum wage is $13.73 per hour (from January 1, 2026). (Michigan minimum wage law (DOL WHD state minimum wage table, updated July 1, 2026))

  Same official text as quoted above (see the quote; Michigan minimum wage law (DOL WHD state minimum wage table, updated July 1, 2026) · dol.gov).

  “LANSING, MI – On Jan. 1, 2026, Michigan's minimum wage rate will increase from $12.48 to $13.73 per hour as set by Michigan's Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act which establishes the annual schedule of increases.”

  dol.gov · michigan.gov · verified Sep 25, 2026 · 2 official sources

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Michigan requires wages to be paid on a regular basis: weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly or monthly. (U.S. DOL WHD State Payday Requirements)

“Michigan 10 X X X X”

“Requires that an employee receive wages earned on a regular basis: weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly or monthly.”

dol.gov · michigan.gov

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Michigan recognizes limited public policy exceptions (Suchodolski v. Michigan Consolidated Gas): an employee fired for refusing to violate a law, performing a legal duty, or exercising a legal right can sue; no such claim lies where a statute already prohibits the retaliation and provides a remedy. (Order, No. 1:04-cv-00835 (W.D. Mich. Aug. 8, 2006), citing Suchodolski v. Mich. Consol. Gas Co., 316 N.W.2d 710, 711 (Mich. 1982); Order, No. 1:04-cv-00836 (W.D. Mich.), citing Suchodolski v. Mich. Consol. Gas Co., 316 N.W.2d 710, 711-12 (Mich. 1982))

“Ordinarily, employers and employees enjoy an at-will relationship, meaning the employee can quit or be fired at any time—for any or no reason—subject to certain delimited public policy exceptions.”

“In order to state a claim of wrongful discharge against Michigan public policy, Plaintiff must demonstrate that he suffered an adverse employment action because of a law he refused to violate, a duty he was obligated to discharge, or a right he was entitled to exercise.”

govinfo.gov · govinfo.gov

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Michigan's at-will presumption can be rebutted: stated employer policies and established procedures can make a right to continued employment absent just cause enforceable in contract or through a legitimate-expectations claim (Toussaint v. Blue Cross & Blue Shield). (Kinch v. Pinnacle Foods Group LLC, No. 2:16-cv-12840 (E.D. Mich. July 17, 2017), quoting Toussaint v. Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Michigan, 292 N.W.2d 880, 894 (Mich. 1980); Order, No. 3:22-cv-10449-RHC (E.D. Mich. Dec. 8, 2022), quoting Lytle v. Malady, 458 Mich. 153, 163 (1998), citing Toussaint, 408 Mich. 579 (1980))

“"The right to continued employment absent cause for termination may, thus, because of stated employer policies and established procedures, be enforceable in contract . . . ."”

“This “presumption of employment at will can be rebutted so that contractual obligations and limitations are imposed on an employer's right to terminate employment.””

govinfo.gov · govinfo.gov

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Michigan employers must give each worker, at the time of separation from employment, a copy of form UA 1711 'Unemployment Compensation Notice to Employee' or an equivalent written notice. (Mich. Admin. Code R 421.204)

“shall provide each worker at the time of the worker's separation from employment a copy of form UA 1711, unemployment compensation notice to employee.”

“Each employee, when separated from your employment should receive a completed copy of this form or an equivalent written notice.”

ars.apps.lara.state.mi.us · michigan.gov

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