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Governor Pushes Harmful 15 Week Paid Family Leave Proposal on Small Business

September 6, 2023 Last Edit: June 5, 2025

Governor Whitmer made her Fall Agenda Announcement on August 30, 2023.

Governor Pushes Harmful 15 Week Paid Family Leave Proposal on Small Business

Governor Whitmer announced her fall legislative agenda on August 30th (see NFIB’s reaction HERE). She included “climate change” legislation including the elimination of non-renewable energy in Michigan, as well as mandated paid family leave. Bills introducing the “MI Family Leave Optimal Coverage” Act (MI-FLOC) were already introduced in the legislature (Senate Bill 332 and House Bill 4574) and include the following provisions:

15 weeks of PAID family leave
Applies to ALL employees, both full and part-time employees (no exemptions for smaller employers)
Funded by a payroll tax on employers (total cost is estimated to be over $1 billion)
Employers cannot require employees to use any paid time off first
Employer must restore the employee to their former position (or similar position) upon return from leave
Can be used for issues other than illness (school events, etc.)
Can be used to care for anyone who has “an affinity” like family.
This paid family leave mandate is IN ADDITION TO the paid sick leave mandate on employers with 50 or more employees
Unemployment style system, creating a new government bureaucracy

NFIB has been at the forefront of fighting various paid leave proposals throughout the years and is alarmed by the potential harm to small business from this legislation. In addition to a new, socialized tax, small businesses cannot afford to replace employees with little or no notice. We need your help as we fight off this dangerous legislation! We know that small business owners do everything they can to provide for their employees. Legislators need to hear how this will negatively affect your business AND your employees to counteract the emotional arguments from the other side. SHARE YOUR STORY HERE! Download more information on the MI-FLOC HERE.

Topics:

Taxes

State:

Michigan

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