Labor: fair employment practices; penalties and payment of back wages for violations of the whistleblowers' protection act; increase. Amends secs. 4 & 5 of 1980 PA 469 (MCL 15.364 & 15.365).

HB 4781 amends Michigan's Whistleblowers' Protection Act to strengthen penalties for employers who retaliate against employees reporting violations. It increases the civil fine for violations from $500 to $2,000 per offense and requires employers to pay triple back wages to affected employees. The bill directly impacts workers who report wrongdoing (whistleblowers) and employers who retaliate, ensuring greater financial accountability. All collected fines must be deposited into the state general fund.