Short answer. At least 1 hour of earned sick time for every 30 hours worked. Use may be limited to 72 hours of paid time a year (40 hours a calendar year at a small business). Use may begin: under the accrual method, a new employee may have to wait until the 120th calendar day after starting; front-loading employers have no wait.
At a glance
- Law
- Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA), as amended by HB 4002 (2025)
- In effect
- February 21, 2025; for small businesses, October 1, 2025.
- Accrual
- At least 1 hour of earned sick time for every 30 hours worked.
- Yearly limit
- Use may be limited to 72 hours of paid time a year (40 hours a calendar year at a small business).
- Use may begin
- Under the accrual method, a new employee may have to wait until the 120th calendar day after starting; front-loading employers have no wait.
- Agency
- Michigan Wage and Hour Division (LEO)
Rules by employer size
| Employer size | Rate | Yearly limit | Paid? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 or more employees | 1 hr per 30 | 72 hrs of use | Yes |
| Small business, 10 or fewer employees (from Oct. 1, 2025) | 1 hr per 30 | 40 hrs of use | Yes |
Example with dates
Suppose someone at an employer in the "small business, 10 or fewer employees (from oct. 1, 2025)" group starts on Monday, January 18, 2027 and works 40 hours every week. At 1 hour per 30 hours worked, that's 1.33 hours a week, and the first year comes to 69.33 hours, with the yearly use limit of 40 hours reached on Monday, August 16, 2027. The latest an employer could hold off use is Tuesday, May 18, 2027.
- By Sunday, April 18, 2027: 16 hours
- By Sunday, July 18, 2027: 33.33 hours
- By Tuesday, January 18, 2028: 69.33 hours
Your own figures: open the calculator set to Michigan.
What the time covers
The employee's or a family member's mental or physical illness, injury or health condition, including diagnosis, care and preventive care, and needs when the employee or a family member is a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault (medical care, counseling, victim services, relocation, legal services and proceedings).
Unused hours at year end
Under the accrual method, employees may carry over up to 40 hours (small business) or 72 hours (other employers).
Front-loading instead of accrual
Allowed: front-loaded hours must be available for immediate use, and the employer need not allow carryover or pay out unused time.
Smaller employers and who is covered
A small business has 10 or fewer employees, counting full-time, part-time and temporary workers, including those from staffing agencies. Its employees accrue from October 1, 2025, and use may be limited to 40 paid hours a year.
Notices, posters and statements
Employers give written notice of ESTA rights at hiring and display the required poster (English, Spanish and Arabic versions are published).
Worth knowing
The state's FAQ was revised July 22, 2025. Where a collective bargaining agreement in effect gives less than the law, the law applies once the contract expires, and the employer must notify the department.
Not stated on the official pages we read: local ordinances.
Official sources
- Earned Sick Time Act (Michigan LEO) (checked November 2026)
- Earned Sick Time Act FAQ, revised 7/22/2025 (Michigan Wage and Hour Division) (checked November 2026)
Rules as published on the pages above, checked November 2026. General information, not legal advice; we are not lawyers. A city ordinance, union contract or written policy can give employees more.
Questions employers ask
How much paid sick leave do employees earn in Michigan?
At least 1 hour of earned sick time for every 30 hours worked. Use may be limited to 72 hours of paid time a year (40 hours a calendar year at a small business).
When can a new employee start using sick leave in Michigan?
Under the accrual method, a new employee may have to wait until the 120th calendar day after starting; front-loading employers have no wait.
Does unused sick time carry over to the next year in Michigan?
Under the accrual method, employees may carry over up to 40 hours (small business) or 72 hours (other employers).
Can a Michigan employer front-load sick leave instead of tracking accrual?
Allowed: front-loaded hours must be available for immediate use, and the employer need not allow carryover or pay out unused time.
Do small employers in Michigan have to provide it?
A small business has 10 or fewer employees, counting full-time, part-time and temporary workers, including those from staffing agencies. Its employees accrue from October 1, 2025, and use may be limited to 40 paid hours a year.
What can Michigan sick leave be used for?
The employee's or a family member's mental or physical illness, injury or health condition, including diagnosis, care and preventive care, and needs when the employee or a family member is a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault (medical care, counseling, victim services, relocation, legal services and proceedings).
All states: paid sick leave laws by state · Maryland · Minnesota