Michigan Employment Law: Wages, Final Pay, Breaks and Your Rights at Work
Michigan employment law: minimum wage, overtime, breaks, final paycheck deadlines, PTO payout, sick leave, at-will exceptions and where to file a wage claim.
Quick answers for Michigan
- Minimum wage
- $13.73 per hour since January 1, 2026 (for employers with 2 or more employees). MCL 408.934; Michigan Wage and Hour Division minimum wage page
- Final paycheck if fired or laid off
- All wages earned and due must be paid immediately, as soon as the amount can be determined with due diligence. MCL 408.475(2)
- Unused vacation / PTO payout
- Depends on the employer's written contract or policy. Fringe benefits such as vacation pay must be paid according to the terms of the written contract or policy. MCL 408.473
Last verified: 2026-10-26
Pay
| Minimum wage | $13.73 per hour since January 1, 2026 (for employers with 2 or more employees). Scheduled increase: $15.00 per hour on January 1, 2027. Starting in 2028 the rate is adjusted each year for inflation (announced by November 1), unless state unemployment is 8.5% or higher. Statute: https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-408-934 |
|---|---|
| Tipped minimum wage | Tipped employees may be paid 40% of the minimum wage in 2026 (about $5.49 per hour) if their reported tips bring them to at least the full minimum wage, they keep all their tips (voluntary sharing with others in the chain of service is allowed), and the employer told them about this rule in writing at hire and got their written consent. Tips and service charges belong to the employee and do not count toward wages owed. Scheduled changes: 42% of the minimum wage ($6.30 per hour) on January 1, 2027, then rising 2 points a year to 50% in 2031. Source: MCL 408.934d |
| Overtime | 1.5 times the regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. No daily overtime for most private employees. Comp time instead of overtime pay is allowed only under a written voluntary plan that meets the statute's conditions. Source: MCL 408.934a |
| How often you must be paid | Generally twice a month (by the 1st and 15th), or on a regular weekly or biweekly payday no later than 14 days after the end of the work period, or monthly within 15 days after the end of the month. Source: MCL 408.472 |
| Pay stubs | With each payment, a statement showing hours worked, gross wages, the pay period, and an itemized list of deductions. Hours do not have to be shown for exempt executive, administrative and professional employees. Source: MCL 408.479(2) |
Breaks and leave
| Paid sick leave | All employers must provide earned sick time. Employees earn at least 1 hour for every 30 hours worked. Small businesses must allow use of at least 40 paid hours a year; other employers at least 72 hours. Unused hours carry over (up to 40 or 72 hours), unless the full amount is front-loaded each year. Employers may make new hires wait 120 calendar days before using it. Small businesses were not required to provide paid accrual until October 1, 2025. Complaints about earned sick time may be filed within 3 years: https://www.michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/ber/wage-and-hour/complaint |
|---|
Leaving a job
| Final paycheck if fired or laid off | All wages earned and due must be paid immediately, as soon as the amount can be determined with due diligence. Source: MCL 408.475(2) |
|---|---|
| Final paycheck if you quit | All wages earned and due must be paid as soon as the amount can be determined with due diligence (no later than 3 days for hand harvesters of crops). Source: MCL 408.475(1) |
| Unused vacation / PTO payout | Depends on the employer's written contract or policy. Fringe benefits such as vacation pay must be paid according to the terms of the written contract or policy. Source: MCL 408.473 |
| Unemployment benefits | Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency. Claims are filed online; the new MiUI system replaces MiWAM on November 9, 2026, and claims can no longer be filed by phone. Most UIA online services are unavailable from 4:30 p.m. November 2 to November 9, 2026, during the changeover. |
Firing, retaliation and discrimination
| Whistleblower and retaliation protection | Employers may not fire, threaten or otherwise punish an employee who reports, or is about to report, a suspected violation of law to a public body, or who is asked to take part in a public body's investigation or a court action. A lawsuit must be filed within 90 days of the violation. Deadline: https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-15-363 |
|---|---|
| Job discrimination complaints | Michigan Department of Civil Rights. The Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act covers employers with 1 or more employees. Source: MCL 37.2201 |
| Non-compete agreements | Allowed if reasonable in length, geographic area and type of work and needed to protect the employer's reasonable competitive business interests. A court may narrow an unreasonable agreement and enforce it as limited. Source: MCL 445.774a |
Where to get help in Michigan
- Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, Wage and Hour Division
- File a complaint or claim
Employment Law FAQ
What is the minimum wage in Michigan?
$13.73 per hour since January 1, 2026 (for employers with 2 or more employees).
What is the tipped minimum wage in Michigan?
Tipped employees may be paid 40% of the minimum wage in 2026 (about $5.49 per hour) if their reported tips bring them to at least the full minimum wage, they keep all their tips (voluntary sharing with others in the chain of service is allowed), and the employer told them about this rule in writing at hire and got their written consent. Tips and service charges belong to the employee and do not count toward wages owed.
What are the overtime rules in Michigan?
1.5 times the regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. No daily overtime for most private employees. Comp time instead of overtime pay is allowed only under a written voluntary plan that meets the statute's conditions.
When do I get my final paycheck if I'm fired in Michigan?
All wages earned and due must be paid immediately, as soon as the amount can be determined with due diligence.
When do I get my final paycheck if I quit in Michigan?
All wages earned and due must be paid as soon as the amount can be determined with due diligence (no later than 3 days for hand harvesters of crops).
Does an employer have to pay out unused PTO in Michigan?
Depends on the employer's written contract or policy. Fringe benefits such as vacation pay must be paid according to the terms of the written contract or policy.
How often must employees be paid in Michigan?
Generally twice a month (by the 1st and 15th), or on a regular weekly or biweekly payday no later than 14 days after the end of the work period, or monthly within 15 days after the end of the month.
Do employers have to give pay stubs in Michigan?
With each payment, a statement showing hours worked, gross wages, the pay period, and an itemized list of deductions. Hours do not have to be shown for exempt executive, administrative and professional employees.
Is paid sick leave required in Michigan?
All employers must provide earned sick time. Employees earn at least 1 hour for every 30 hours worked. Small businesses must allow use of at least 40 paid hours a year; other employers at least 72 hours. Unused hours carry over (up to 40 or 72 hours), unless the full amount is front-loaded each year. Employers may make new hires wait 120 calendar days before using it.
Is it illegal to fire someone for reporting a violation in Michigan?
Employers may not fire, threaten or otherwise punish an employee who reports, or is about to report, a suspected violation of law to a public body, or who is asked to take part in a public body's investigation or a court action. A lawsuit must be filed within 90 days of the violation.
Where do I file a job discrimination complaint in Michigan?
Michigan Department of Civil Rights. The Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act covers employers with 1 or more employees.
Are non-compete agreements enforceable in Michigan?
Allowed if reasonable in length, geographic area and type of work and needed to protect the employer's reasonable competitive business interests. A court may narrow an unreasonable agreement and enforce it as limited.
How do I apply for unemployment in Michigan?
Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency. Claims are filed online; the new MiUI system replaces MiWAM on November 9, 2026, and claims can no longer be filed by phone.
Employment Law in other states
More Michigan law
- Michigan tenant rights & landlord-tenant law
- Michigan small claims court
- Michigan wills, probate & estates
- Michigan protective & restraining orders
- Michigan debt & collections
- Michigan unemployment benefits
- Michigan divorce & family law
- Michigan expungement & criminal records
- Michigan traffic tickets & dui
- Michigan personal injury & wrongful death
- Michigan workers' compensation
- Michigan foreclosure & homeowner law
- Michigan consumer protection
- Michigan starting an llc & small business
- Michigan bankruptcy
- Michigan car insurance & vehicle laws
- Michigan property tax & homestead exemptions
- Michigan criminal law
- Michigan gun laws
- Find a lawyer or free legal help in Michigan
- All Michigan law guides
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.