Michigan House Bill HB5905

Michigan 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 8/13/24
• Refer: 8/13/24

Caption

Labor: fair employment practices; absence from work to respond to an emergency as an emergency responder; protect from adverse employment action. Creates new act.

Impact

The bill is intended to enhance job security for emergency responders by ensuring they can perform their duties without fear of losing their jobs. Employers are required to accept absences for emergency responses as legitimate and cannot penalize employees for fulfilling these critical roles. The act also requires employees to notify their employers of their emergency responder status and provide verification of their availability, aiming to maintain workplace safety while protecting emergency response activities.

Summary

House Bill 5905, known as the Emergency Responder Employment Protection Act, aims to safeguard the employment rights of individuals who serve as emergency responders. The bill prohibits employers from discriminating, disciplining, or discharging employees who must be absent from work to respond to emergencies in their capacity as emergency responders. The legislation defines an emergency responder to include various professions such as firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, and healthcare professionals, excluding law enforcement officers.

Contention

Some points of contention may arise regarding the definition and scope of who qualifies as an emergency responder, as well as concerns about the potential impact on employers’ operational flexibility. Critics might argue that the legislation could lead to challenges in managing employee attendance and maintaining workplace productivity, as well as the administrative burden of compliance with such requirements. Nevertheless, proponents emphasize the necessity of protecting those who risk their lives to respond to emergencies.