The bill amends the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act by adding a new section, 66a, which protects employees from being discharged, discriminated against, or retaliated against for refusing to work under certain conditions. Specifically, an employee may refuse to work if they reasonably believe that doing so would expose them, another employee, or the public to a communicable disease or an unsafe condition. The employee must have previously requested the employer to correct the unsafe condition, and if the condition remains uncorrected, the employee must report it to the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Additionally, if an employee refuses to work under these circumstances and is not reassigned, the employer is required to pay the employee wages for the duration that the unsafe condition remains unaddressed. The bill also establishes a presumption of violation if an employer retaliates against an employee within 90 days of the employee engaging in protected activity, unless the employer can provide clear and convincing evidence that their actions were legally justified.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 408.1001, 408.1094