Is an employer legally obligated to pay statutory sick pay?

In Michigan, the answer to whether an employer is legally obligated to pay statutory sick pay is largely dependent upon the size of the employer. Employers that have fewer than 50 employees are not legally required to provide statutory sick pay. However, employers that have 50 or more employees are legally obligated to provide at least five days of paid sick leave to all employees in any 12-month period. All employers in Michigan must follow the relevant employer requirements outlined in the Michigan Paid Medical Leave Act. This act requires employers to offer 1 hour of paid medical leave to an employee for every 35 hours worked, up to a maximum of 40 hours of unpaid medical leave per year. This medical leave may be used for absences related to physical or mental illness, injury, health condition, diagnosis, or preventive care of the employee, or a family member of the employee. Any employer that does not provide statutory sick pay at the legally required levels may be subject to fines and penalties. Employers must also ensure that they are providing a safe and healthy work environment for all employees. In addition to the medical leave requirements, employers in Michigan are required to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities, including making reasonable modifications to their policies when it comes to sick leave.

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