THE HITS KEEP COMING – ACT NOW: Legislature Considers Expensive Workers' Compensation Overhaul

The legislature continues its push for various public policy proposals that would threaten the small businesses in their own communities.

This week alone, the House approved changes to the unemployment insurance system that would raise weeks of benefit eligibility from 20 to 26 and would increase the weekly maximum benefit amount by 70%. These bills now head to the Governor's desk, where they will likely be signed into law. Meanwhile, the legislature continues to ignore small business owners' concerns about upcoming increases to the minimum wage, elimination of the tip credit, and implementation of the Earned Sick Time Act.
Legislators have considered various mandates and tax increases this week, but momentum has gathered around huge changes to Michigan's Workers' Compensation law. Changes in the law would:

Eliminate many work search requirements.

Remove the duty to seek work reasonably available to the employee.

• Drastically broadens the definition of "disability" itself.
• Apply all changes retroactively to all personal injuries and diseases occurring on or after 1985.

Estimates indicate that the changes in these bills could increase Workers' Compensation premiums by as much as 40%.

Legislators are facing tremendous pressure to support this harmful policy, and feedback from members like you has been instrumental in slowing down a number of bad policies, already. If this bill would negatively impact your business, click HERE to make your voice heard to your local elected officials.

Thank you for your continued support and participation in these vital calls to action. Recent member response rate to calls to action has reached all-time highs and has been making a real impact in keeping some very harmful things at bay. WE NEED YOU NOW MORE THAN EVER.

The SBAM Advocacy team is tracking the issues that have the greatest potential to impact our members. Read our full 2024 Legislative Watchlist for details.

The Small Business Association of Michigan focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan’s small business community through advocacy, collaboration and buying power. Today they serve over 32,000 members in all 83 counties of Michigan. SBAM is located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol.

Images courtesy of SBAM