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The Michigan Smoke-Free Law goes into effect on May 1, 2010. Employers need to act now to post “no smoking” signs (including those with the international symbol for no smoking) at entrances. Signs must also be posted on outdoor patios and rooftops if food and beverages are served there.

Employers must also remove ashtrays and any equipment or furnishing that is necessarily used for smoking. Employers and supervisors are required by law to inform any worker who smokes that he or she is in violation of state law and subject to fines and penalties. In addition, employers are required by law to refuse service to any individual customer who is smoking. Under the law, the employer must ask a customer who is smoking to stop. If the customer refuses, the employer must ask him or her to leave the premises.

The act is also referred to as the Ron M. Davis Law, after the former Chief Medical Officer of the Michigan Department of Community Health. It prohibits smoking in bars, restaurants and other public spaces, including most workplaces. Under the law, smoking is banned in malls, bowling alleys, arenas, museums, mechanic shops, health clubs, nursing homes, schools and child care centers. The law also bans smoking in offices, even in private offices in commercial buildings.

The Michigan law bans smoking in places of employment defined as enclosed indoor areas with one or more work areas, for one or more persons. Home offices are exempt if they are used as a primary residence and only one person works there.

Smoking is also prohibited in indoor (more…)

Smoking will be prohibited in all public places and indoor workplaces including restaurants, hotels and bars under the Michigan Smoking Ban. Under the law, the “workplace” is defined as any place that serves food or drink and has at least one employee.

Smoking will still be permitted in vehicles, even those vehicles used for work. It will also be permitted in home offices, according to the Detroit Free Press.

As we previously reported, Michigan is the 38^th state to pass a smoking ban, which becomes effective on May 1, 2010. An exception to the ban will permit smoking on the gambling floor of the Detroit-area casinos, while prohibiting smoking in casino bars, restaurants and hotels.

Hookah bars and cigar bars can continue to operate as long as they do not serve any food or beverages. Smoking is banned on the outdoor patios of restaurants, and in all hotel rooms. Workers on construction sites are permitted to smoke outside, but not inside.

This law is the result of a decade-long effort by Michigan legislators, mostly Democrats, to implement a smoking ban. A recent survey shows that 66% of Michigan voters support some type of smoking ban.

Employers must post appropriate non-smoking signs throughout the workplace, especially at entrances and exits. Ashtrays and other smoking implements are prohibited. If an employee is caught smoking, the employee will be subject to tickets, fines and penalties. The fine is $100 for the first violation and up to $500 for subsequent violation. This also applies to customers, (more…)

Employers in several states, including Mississippi, Colorado and Arizona, are required by law to use E-Verify to check every new employee’s documentation.

In Texas, Hawaii, Michigan and eleven other states, employers are strongly urged to use E-Verify.

Tax incentives are offered in some states, like Georgia, to employers that utilize E-Verify. Government employees, state contractors and sub-contractors are already required to use E-Verify by most states.

Many states are (more…)

Michigan seems poised to pass a smoking ban that would affect almost all employers, including restaurants and bars, in the next legislative session. Both the state house and senate passed bills protecting employees from second-hand smoke in the workplace in 2008. However, the two bills had significant differences and the legislature was unable to resolve those differences before they adjourned for the summer in late May.

Bills to ban smoking in restaurants and bars were introduced in 2007 in both the Michigan House and Senate. In each case, the bills generated a lot of debate and were sent into the 2008 legislative session.

In the spring of 2008, (more…)

Five states increased their minimum wages effective July 1, 2008. They include: Illinois, Michigan, West Virginia, Kentucky and Nevada.

In Illinois, the state minimum wage increased 25 cents from $7.50 to $7.75 per hour. This is the second step in a 3-tiered increase. The state minimum wage will increase again in 2009. The law applies to any employer with 4 or more workers who are not family members.  More details here.

Michigan’s minimum wage also increased 25 cents per hour from $7.15 to $7.40.  The state minimum wage has risen nearly $2.00 since 2005, despite sluggish job growth, problems for the automotive industry and the loss of a number of major employers. The law applies to employers with 2 or more workers. More details here.

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