Michigan Employee Rights

Quick Guide to Michigan Employee Rights

Michigan Employee Rights

One of the greatest public resources for Michigan employee rights involving employee rights in minimum wage, fair pay and equal pay, the hiring process, safety standards, and more is the following website under Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

You can also reference the following website for safety rights and responsibilities for the employer and employee under the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act:

Laws that Protect a Worker in the Hiring Process

There are multiple federal laws and state laws that protect a prospective and current employee during the hiring process or promotion process, and most of these laws address credit histories, drug tests, and discrimination.

Under the “Right to Know Act,” any public or private employee in a company with four or more employees has Michigan employee rights to view their personal file. If the file contains any discrimination based on bankruptcy, a failed drug test during an application process in the past, or more, the employer’s personal file for the employee is in direct violation of Michigan employee rights.

There are certain laws that restrict an employer from discriminating during the hiring process as well. Some of these laws are listed below:

• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (which protects against race, color, religion, sex, or national origin)

• Age Discrimination Act of 1963 (which protects workers who are 40 years or older)

• Title I and Title V of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Sections 501 and 505 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (which protects disabled persons in federal, state, and local sectors)
• Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (which prohibits discrimination based on genetic information about the employee)

Fair Pay and Equal Pay

There are also Michigan employee rights that cover various employee rights in minimum wage and fair pay and equal pay. Some of these rights are listed below:

The Fair Pay and Equal Pay Acts

These acts prohibit sex-based discrimination within the same job. The Fair Pay and Equal Pay Acts also prohibit an employer from paying employees of equal experience and skill different wages based on sex or any categories under discrimination laws.

Various Employee Rights with Minimum Wage

The MI minimum wage has been $7.40 since 2008. Various employee rights in minimum wage laws allow the employee to negotiate their wage, and employees receiving minimum wage operate under the same overtime rules as people with higher pay rates. However, an employer may operate under federal minimum wage in some cases. Refer to the article on this website titled, “Quick Guide to Minimum Wage in Michigan” for more information on various employee rights in minimum wage.

If you believe your Michigan employee rights have been violated, including various employee rights in minimum wage, fair pay and equal pay, the hiring process, or any other aspect of the workplace, you should never be afraid to receive proper compensation from the employer. Your rights under the hiring process, various employee rights under minimum wage laws, and others are protected under whistleblower laws if you decide to bring suit against an employer.