Labor

This bill updates Michigan's skilled trades regulations to set specific supervision ratios for both electricians and plumbers on job sites. It requires that no more than two apprentice electricians work under one journeyman or master electrician, while limiting apprentice plumbers to a maximum of two per journeyman or master plumber. To enforce these rules, the law establishes escalating penalties for violations, including fines up to $10,000 and potential license suspensions for contractors who exceed the allowed apprentice-to-supervisor limits. Additionally, the bill mandates that all registered apprentices must sign up with the state board within 30 days of starting their employment.

This bill modifies Michigan's State Employees' Retirement Act to clarify how service time is calculated and to establish an election option for current employees to choose between two retirement tiers. It defines "Tier 1" and "Tier 2" plans based on an employee's hire date and specific election choices, allowing those hired after a certain date to opt into a 401(k)-style plan instead of the traditional system. The legislation also updates rules regarding service credit for various types of leave, including worker's compensation, layoffs, and furloughs, while maintaining existing exclusions for officials who voluntarily opt out of the retirement system.

This bill modifies Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to strengthen protections against employment discrimination and unequal pay. It allows individuals who win a case to receive triple the amount of damages they would normally get and clarifies that these damages include reasonable attorney fees. Additionally, the bill changes the rule for when a legal claim starts, setting the date to when the employee actually learns about the violation rather than when it happened. The law also specifies that lawsuits can be filed in the county where the incident occurred or where the employer is based. These changes take effect 90 days after the bill becomes official law.

This bill requires employers in Michigan to create and maintain written job descriptions for every position. These descriptions must list essential duties, required skills and training, working conditions, and salary information. Employers must provide these documents to job applicants during the hiring process and to current employees upon request. Additionally, any changes to a job description cannot take effect until the affected employee has reviewed and signed off on the update.

This bill amends Michigan's wage and benefits law to establish stricter penalties and remedies for employers who fail to follow fair employment practices. It authorizes the Department of Labor to order employers to pay owed wages and benefits, plus an annual 10% penalty on those amounts while a complaint is being processed. The legislation also allows the department to award up to twice the owed amount in exemplary damages for flagrant or repeated violations and to cover legal costs for the affected employee. Additionally, it introduces a tiered fine system for specific violations, where fines increase from $500 for a first offense to $25,000 for subsequent offenses, and permits individuals to sue for at least $10,000 in damages if they prevail in court.