LANSING, Mich. (Dec. 10, 2024) – Today, Senate Bill 332 and Senate Bill 333, establishing Michigan’s Family Leave Optimal Coverage (FLOC), were successfully voted on and passed out of the Senate Committee on Housing and Human Services with recommendation that the bills pass the full Senate chamber. This legislation establishes a state-run program that will provide eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of job-protected paid leave.
Under FLOC, workers will have the financial security and time they need to care for a new child, provide for a loved one during an illness, or grieve the loss of a family member — all without fear of losing their job or paycheck.
“FLOC will empower Michigan’s working families by giving them the time and financial support they need during life’s most important moments while also benefiting businesses through higher employee retention, increased productivity, and lower turnover costs,” said Sen. Geiss. “This legislation will have a generational impact, ensuring workers, families, and caregivers no longer face the struggles and inequities too many have endured for far too long. Senate Bills 332 and 333 are a crucial step toward equity, justice, and a stronger, more resilient economy.”
“Today, we stood before lawmakers and made it clear that FLOC is not just a policy — it’s a pathway to equity for Michigan families,” said Danielle Atkinson, Founding Executive Director of Mothering Justice. “Michigan families are struggling to balance caregiving and economic survival. Passing FLOC, which could benefit 1.6 million Michigan workers, will ensure no parent has to choose between their loved ones and their livelihood. This is the fight of our generation, and Mothering Justice will continue to lead the charge for this transformational change.”
“The actuarial analysis released by the Michigan Dept. of Labor and Economic Opportunity earlier this year provides solid evidence that paid leave would be a low-cost, high-value program that is affordable for employees and businesses alike,” said Monique Stanton, President and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy. “Based on our estimates from the analysis, the cost of a 12-week paid leave program for workers making the median and minimum wages here in Michigan would be $3.25 and $1.48 respectively — about the same as it would cost to buy a cup of coffee or bottle of pop each week. And, under that same plan, small businesses would pay approximately $9,000 annually if they had 50 employees and the average salary of all employees was $50,000. For that low cost, working Michiganders will have the security they need to take time away from work for critical caregiving needs while still being able to pay their bills.”
Extensive research demonstrates that paid leave programs like FLOC deliver undeniable benefits. The impact extends far beyond individual households and businesses — it strengthens the entire state. Healthier, more productive workers contribute to a robust economy, while the ability to take time off without the fear of losing a paycheck improves long-term physical and mental health.
Workers with access to paid leave experience less poverty, reduced financial stress, and greater overall stability. Paid leave is also a powerful tool for improving public health, reducing infant and child mortality, preventing low birth weights and premature births, and increasing breastfeeding rates, on-time immunizations, and other critical health outcomes.
To learn more, view the studies on Michigan’s Family Leave Optimal Coverage (FLOC) Act below:
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