Calls to Action

The collective voice of the small business community does impact change. Here are the current Calls to Action – learn more about these issues and make your voice heard!

December 12, 2024: Workers’ Compensation Overhaul

Legislators have considered various mandates and tax increases this week, but momentum has gathered around huge changes to Michigan’s Workers’ Compensation law. Changes in the law would:

• Eliminate distinction between degree of disability, meaning individuals who would be considered partially now could receive the same pay level as those who are fully disabled, even if they were still capable of work.
• Remove the duty to seek work reasonably available to the employee.
• Drastically broadens the definition of “disability” itself.
• Apply all changes retroactively to all personal injuries and diseases occurring on or after 1985.

December 10, 2024: Paid Family Leave

The Michigan Legislature continues to consider anti-business policies at a troubling rate, and it is more important than ever that you make your voice heard.

Today, the Senate Committee on Housing and Human Services voted along party lines for a new Family Leave proposal, which would guarantee 12 weeks of partial wage replacement for use as parental leave – along with a litany of other reasons. All employers with more than 25 employees would be forced to offer this new benefit, and the program would be funded through a payroll tax and administered as a UIA-style bureaucracy. The bill will soon be considered for a vote by the Senate.

November 13, 2024: Protect Michigan’s Tipped Wage System

Michigan law currently ensures tipped-wage workers earn at least minimum wage, even if tips fall short. For most servers, this system results in earnings far above minimum wage, and polling shows that 83% of servers want to keep it. Why? Because the current system supports more tips, higher wages, and stronger job opportunities. Changing this system would lead to higher menu prices, fewer tips, and a reduced number of jobs.

November 11, 2024: Fix the Earned Sick Time Act

Now that the election has passed, the Michigan Legislature has returned to Lansing for the last session days of the year. The number one issue on their to-do list should be to implement common-sense changes to the Earned Sick Time Act. 

SBAM’s 2024 Legislative Watchlist