Earned sick time act (esta)

What Michigan's Earned Sick Time Act means for you

The Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA) went into effect February 21, 2025, requiring that certain employees start accruing paid leave to be used for sick and family sick time.   

While most MSU employees already earn more paid time off than required by the act, MSU has multiple groups of eligible employees who will start accruing paid sick time per the new Earned Sick Time Act Policy (link coming soon). In addition, there are groups of non-union support staff who already earn paid sick time who will be covered by a new interim policy that provides additional ESTA requirements.  

Am I eligible under the new ESTA Policy?

The new Earned Sick Time Act policy applies to:

  • Non-union temporary employees, including:
    • Service maintenance temps
    • Operating engineer temps
    • Skilled trades temps
    • Professional temps
    • Clerical technical temps
    • MSU Extension worker temps
  • Non-union on-call employees
  • Student hourly employees

How much paid sick leave will eligible employees earn?  

Eligible employees will receive one hour for every 30 hours worked, subject to the terms in the policy.  

For newly hired eligible employees, there is a 120-day waiting period before they can use the paid ESTA leave. All current eligible employees are entitled to earn (and use, as earned) paid ESTA leave after February 21, 2025.  

What are eligible employees able to use paid medical leave for?  

Eligible employees can use this time for themselves or their family member's mental or physical illness, injury or health condition, medical diagnosis, care or treatment or preventative medical care. This leave can also be used if the eligible employee or a member of their family is a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault. Review the full policy for more.  (Link coming soon)

What about union support staff?  

Union support staff continue to follow the Support Staff Policy & Procedure for Sick Time and their applicable union contract. The ESTA will apply to union employees only upon the expiration date of the collective bargaining agreement.  

Questions

Contact your direct supervisor for questions related to your paid medical leave. You may also contact MSU HR with further questions at 517-353-4434 or  SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu .