Time

Governor Whitmer Enacts Key Amendments to Michigan’s Wage and Sick Time Laws, Impacting Workers and Employers Statewide

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Lansing, MI — On February 21, 2025, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer enacted significant changes to the state’s labor laws, signing two pivotal bills that amend the Michigan Wage Act and the Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA). These legislative adjustments arrived just in time to preempt the existing laws previously slated to take effect by judicial order. The revisions brought about by these new laws aim to adjust compensation dynamics and paid sick leave provisions in ways that will impact both workers and employers across the state. Among the key changes is an accelerated increase in … Read more

Michigan’s Minimum Wage, Tipped Wage, and Sick Time Laws Updated: New Changes Signed into Law by Governor Whitmer

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Lansing, Mich. — After significant legislative maneuvers and court rulings, Michigan has enacted new laws altering the state’s minimum wage, tipped wage, and employee sick time regulations. Governor Gretchen Whitmer officially signed two pivotal bills on Friday, February 21, 2025, which became effective immediately and applied retroactively due to urgency pronounced by both lawmakers and the public. These reforms emerged from a turbulent legislative history that began in 2018 when groups such as Mothering Justice, Michigan One Fair Wage, and Michigan Time to Care proposed increases to the minimum wage and improvements to sick leave … Read more

Judge Grants Additional Time to USAID Workers Amid Ongoing Union Litigation

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WASHINGTON — A federal judge has recently extended a critical injunction that prevents the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) from dismissing employees who are involved in a significant lawsuit over union activities. The lawsuit alleges that USAID has engaged in practices that may have unfairly targeted and potentially discriminated against members of its unionized workforce. The legal challenge, initiated by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), claims that USAID management systematically thwarted union efforts by altering conditions of employment and leveraging dubious personnel changes. This legal action shines a spotlight on the larger … Read more

Step Back in Time: Actor Brings Lincoln’s Law Partner to Life at Sterling-Rock Falls Historical Event

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Sterling, Illinois — In an intriguing blend of history and performance, Brian “Fox” Ellis will embody the spirit of William Herndon, Abraham Lincoln’s law partner, during an upcoming event hosted by the Sterling-Rock Falls Historical Society. Scheduled for 2 p.m. on Feb. 9, the portrayal will take place at the Lincoln Learning Center located at 611 E. Third St. in Sterling. William Herndon is notable for authoring one of the seminal, though contentious, biographies of Abraham Lincoln. His work involved extensive interviews with individuals who had direct interactions with Lincoln, providing a unique perspective on … Read more