Sterling Heights amends administrative code and adopts ordinance to comply with Michigan Earned Sick Time Act

Sterling Heights — The City Council adopted two ordinances on the consent/ordinance-adoption portion of the agenda: one updating Chapter 2 to conform the listing of administrative officers to the confirmed administrative code plan, and a second to amend Chapter 2, Article 5 (sections 2-175 and 2-177) to comply with the Michigan Earned Sick Time Act as amended by Public Act 2 of 2025.

Why it matters: The administrative-code update aligns city code text with the confirmed administrative organizational plan; the earned-sick-time ordinance modifies city employment rules to comply with a new state law covering paid sick leave accrual and eligibility. City staff and council indicated the earned-sick-time changes are among the more complex statutory updates they’ve implemented recently.

Council discussion and vote: The council moved and supported the administrative-code amendment and later voted to adopt the ordinance updating sections 2-175 and 2-177 to implement requirements of Public Act 2 of 2025. Council members noted staff had done substantial preparatory work to operationalize the change; one councilmember said the ordinance "is 1 of the most complicated changes that has come down from the state in years." Council directed staff to continue implementation and training for city personnel.

Operational impact: City staff noted the earned-sick-time rules require adjustments to payroll, tracking of accruals for full- and part-time employees, and other HR processes; staff warned that further state changes could occur and that implementation will be an ongoing task.

Administrative note: Both items passed on voice votes; the clerk’s office will incorporate the administrative-code text changes and staff will proceed with internal implementation of earned sick-time requirements.