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Michigan Employment Law Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law for Michigan on
Q: My employer askes me to start early to get my work station set up and be ready for the day. I don't get paid for that
Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Jan 10, 2023

Ways to resolve: 1) speak to your employer about this concern, letting them know how long it would take you to be ready for the day. 2) Failing that, consider whether an extra 10 minutes a day is worth losing out on a job.

I think you have a legitimate concern, don't get me wrong. I...
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1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law for Michigan on
Q: I was fired for a random drug test and denied my unemployment.? My result was giving to me two week after testing

What are my options

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Jan 3, 2023

Probably limited. Even if you can prove the test was wrong (you'd have to get your own independent test), there's nothing to make them hire you again. You may want to pursue an appeal to the UIA to see what they say.

2 Answers | Asked in Civil Rights, Employment Discrimination and Employment Law for Michigan on
Q: Can I get legal aid to recover damages due to disability discrimination and ADA violations by the City of Detroit.

I used to work for the City of Detroit, I had two emergency surgeries in May 2020, one to amputate my left foot and another surgery the next day to amputate my left leg below the knee due to contracting a flesh-eating bacteria that was progressing rapidly and was life threatening.

I was... View More

Eva Zelson
Eva Zelson
answered on Nov 10, 2022

You may be able to work with an employment law attorney on a contingency basis, meaning that if you win the case or are able to settle, the lawyer's fees come out of the money awarded to you, but if you lose in court, you don’t owe the lawyer any fees. You may have a case that a... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Civil Rights, Employment Discrimination and Employment Law for Michigan on
Q: Can I get legal aid to recover damages due to disability discrimination and ADA violations by the City of Detroit.

I used to work for the City of Detroit, I had two emergency surgeries in May 2020, one to amputate my left foot and another surgery the next day to amputate my left leg below the knee due to contracting a flesh-eating bacteria that was progressing rapidly and was life threatening.

I was... View More

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Nov 6, 2022

Best thing to do would be to call your local legal aid office and let them tell you whether it's something they would accept.

Generally, legal aid offices do not take "fee generating" cases. Think cases that lawyers would typically take on a contingency fee basis; yours is...
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1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law for Michigan on
Q: So I was let go from a Job at a bakery and then the next week I went there went into the safe and grabbed my tip money

there was no sign saying employees only and there was an employee watching me

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Mar 28, 2024

What is your question? What you say you did is potentially a felony crime. When you were let go from the bakery, you had no legitimate business being in the employee areas, regardless if there was a sign indicating as such. Let alone go into a safe.

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts, Employment Law, Personal Injury and Government Contracts for Michigan on
Q: I currently a pension beneficiary & I was trying to look into if it's possible for me to borrow against or receive lump

For context I am to receive this pension till death or marriage. Right now I get a month pay out.

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Mar 23, 2024

A Michigan attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for four weeks. There isn't a category here for ERISA and pensions, but you could look into whether local or state bar associations could offer guidance on attorneys in your area who might handle such matters. Good luck

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law and Personal Injury for Michigan on
Q: Can I bring a lawsuit against a former employer who pays under the table ?

He also had me work for rent for 5 years and never gave me any rent paid receipts. We had a dispute about him not giving me proof of income nor rent paid receipts and he forced my family onto the street with no hope of securing housing without the proofs I need.

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Aug 15, 2023

You have a possible wage and labor issue and a landlord tenant issue. The problem for you might be that you were okay with this arrangement - for five years - until you weren't.

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law for Michigan on
Q: My past employer has reported false information to my current employers that keeps me from getting jobs.

At my previous place of employment, a rumor was started about me. I was encouraged to talk about it with the employees at my job. People then began to ignore me and isolate me. This severely damaged my mental health and was documented with my therapist. I moved to a new location m to get a fresh... View More

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Jul 13, 2023

Your question needs clarity that probably should be left to an offline consultation with an employee-side employment lawyer.

What is the rumor? If you are in the same geographic area, how can you be sure it was an employer and not employees spreading the rumor? You got a new job, which...
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1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law for Michigan on
Q: I interviewed for a job in may/ June 2002. One of the benefits offered was lifetime healthcare for myself and my wife.

I took the job in part because of this. On July 1st that year the policy changed and wives were no longer covered. Should my employer honor the original information I had. I do not have an offer letter to prove I was told of this benefit.

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Jul 5, 2023

Unlikely, for several reasons. When did you actually begin employment? We're talking something that happened over 20 years ago, so even with some sort of bargained-for exchange, you've arguably waived or ratified by your continued employment.

2 Answers | Asked in Employment Discrimination, Employment Law, Personal Injury and Sexual Harassment for Michigan on
Q: worplace sexual harassment, intimidation, discrimination, workplace injury

I am currently still employed at a place where I had to endure sexual harassment, intimidation, discrimination and workplace injury to which they seemingly on purpose filled out paperwork to cause workmans comp to be denied and cause as much disarray as possible. I don't know if I should quit... View More

Dana B. Carron
Dana B. Carron
answered on May 19, 2023

Do you have a workers comp attorney? Ask him or get one. I can set you up with one of the best in Michigan if you still need help.

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1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law for Michigan on
Q: Hey my mom passed away a month ago and before she was sick she worked at a factory for like 7+ years but when

My aunt one of her beneficiaries try to collect her 401(k), but they keep telling her that my mother didn’t work there that they have no record of her but I remember her working at this facility because we used to come to her job with her to grab paperwork sometimes

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on May 2, 2023

Do you have old tax returns or W-2s for her? That should tell you a lot. It's possible she worked at the physical location but for a different entity, like a temp agency or supplier.

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law for Michigan on
Q: Is it legal for the building owner at my work (not my boss) to audio record our conversations at work?

We rent half of a warehouse and they have security cameras but we didn't know they recorded audio. The building owner is mad because his employee quit and now works with us and has been recording our audio trying to get us in trouble with our boss. He emailed a video of us to my boss as... View More

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Mar 30, 2023

It certainly can create a negative environment. Whether it's unlawful is a different question, and to a large extent depends on what your company's lease says. Regardless, it sounds like your new colleague was wise to come on over.

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law and Employment Discrimination for Michigan on
Q: Is asking for 5, 6 hr days instead of 5, 8 hr days a reasonable accommodation for a disabled person who suffers from

Diseases that make it difficult to stand,walk, and bend and is a cashier?

Rhiannon Herbert
Rhiannon Herbert
answered on Feb 14, 2023

You should contact a Michigan employment attorney to discuss further, because these questions are highly dependent on the specific facts of your situation and the job duties you're required to perform. Your accommodation request may or may not be considered reasonable under the Americans with... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law for Michigan on
Q: Can my job ask for a letter from my doctor that he is treating me for anxiety to get my job back?

I had resigned from my job and was trying to go back all week was told Thursday that I couldn't and then Friday got a call but I have to have a letter from my doctor saying I am being treated for anxiety.

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Feb 11, 2023

Not sure if it will help. If you resigned, it seems your employer acted appropriately in assuming you would not be back.

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law for Michigan on
Q: If I have been working a job for three months, but have never signed my offer letter.

Am I entitled to ask for the pay rate that was over the phone but is not my current pay rate.

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Oct 13, 2022

Unlikely. By you working for three months at your current pay rate, you've accepted that.

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law for Michigan on
Q: Is it refusal of work if I wasn’t offered a specific job, pay, hours etc.

I was a temp in 2020 and I lost my job due to a COVID related hiring freeze. My Temp agency called wanting me to come in and see what other jobs were available. I told them I would be applying outside of a temp agency. I soon ended up on unemployment. Now In 2022 unemployment wants their money back... View More

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Oct 12, 2022

You need to find an unemployment attorney. Not sure if you have much of an argument if the temp agency wanted you to come in to see what jobs are available, and you told them no.

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Employment Law and Federal Crimes for Michigan on
Q: Can a person with a 24 year old Felony work in a store, Walmart, that sells guns??

I am in Michigan and was convicted of a felony in 1998. Great bodily harm less than murder. I know that it is up to the individual companies, but wondering if there is any law, state or federal , that would prevent me from working there.

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Sep 28, 2022

Working there? I don't think so. Probably not in the gun section. You should look into, at the very least, restoring your gun rights, though.

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law for Michigan on
Q: is it legal for a company to change your pay date in the middle of the pay period without notice?

normally i work thursday-sunday and get paid that monday. this past friday we found out (literally overheard the managers) that payroll was going to be messed up and we weren’t getting paid monday. my managers/HR/owner has not said ANYTHING about how or when we will be paid. other than “if you... View More

Rhiannon Herbert
Rhiannon Herbert
answered on Sep 28, 2022

This will likely depend on the length of the delay in receiving the payment. Generally, employers can change their payroll schedule without notice (ex. changing pay date from Mondays to Fridays), but there may be payment deadlines imposed by Michigan state law that your employer cannot exceed.

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law for Michigan on
Q: Fired because some was sore I wrote them up and complained to GM.

For the 4 years I have worked at Menards Inc. I have not had any performance or attendance issues. I am a 1st assistant and this past Sunday I wrote up a fellow manager under me for poor job performance. He was irritated. The Saturday before we were playing around and he joked with me about... View More

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Sep 21, 2022

Really hard to say given the limited facts.

Generally, absent a contract or a union agreement, employment in Michigan is "at will". There is limited protection against firing, but retaliation may be a legitimate issue to address. Your problem, though, may be that by your account,...
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1 Answer | Asked in Employment Discrimination and Employment Law for Michigan on
Q: I left my contract on a cruise ship before it was up. they will not hire me back, I left because of Covid, I have case?

The rule on a royal Caribbean ship is that if you leave without fulfilling a two week notice you are not allowed to be rehired. I had put a two week notice in to go home to take care of some personal stuff. During that two weeks. Covid was spreading rapidly, I had a feeling that I was going to be... View More

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Sep 18, 2022

What are you wanting to happen? If that is Royal Caribbean's policy, and they won't hire you back, there is nothing a court can do about that. You have no right to work for a particular company.

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