ATTORNEY ADVERTISING | Paul M. Botros, Esq. | Licensed in Texas and Florida

Michigan Overtime Laws

Michigan workers in the auto industry, manufacturing, and healthcare are often denied the overtime pay they have earned. We fight for your right to fair pay under both Michigan State Law and the Federal FLSA.

Time limits apply to wage claims. Each pay period that passes, the oldest week of your claim can expire. A free case review will tell you your deadline.
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βš–οΈ Legally reviewed by Paul M. Botros, Esq. β€” Employment & Wage Law Attorney, Licensed in Florida & Texas Β· Last updated July 7, 2026

Calculate Your Unpaid Overtime

Get an estimate of what you're owed in just 60 seconds. This calculator is based on federal FLSA laws and includes liquidated damages (double your unpaid wages).

How Are You Paid?

$ /hour
hours
Must be your *paid* hours (can be under 40)
weeks
Default is 1 year (52 weeks). Adjust if different.

Did You Perform Work Off-the-Clock?

This includes work before/after shifts, during breaks, or from home that wasn't recorded or paid.

This calculation is an estimate based on applicable labor laws. Your actual recovery may vary based on state laws and specific circumstances.

Michigan General vs. Federal Law

πŸ”‘ Key Fact: $6.48 Above Federal

Michigan's minimum wage is $13.73 (2026), which is $6.48 higher per hour than the federal rate of $7.25. This significantly raises your overtime pay baseline to at least $20.60/hr.

Protection Michigan State Law (WOWA) Federal Law (FLSA)
Minimum Wage $13.73/hr (2026) $7.25/hr
Tipped Wage $5.49/hr $2.13/hr
Overtime Pay 1.5x after 40 hours 1.5x after 40 hours
Statute of Limitations 3 Years (Standard) 2 Years (3 if Willful)
Employee Coverage 2+ Employees $500k Revenue / Interstate
HCE Exemption NOT Recognized Recognized
Damages Liquidated (Double) Double Damages

Common Michigan Overtime Violations

πŸš— Auto Industry

Detroit & Big Three: Independent contractor misclassification for design/engineering consultants. Engineers earning high salaries often misclassified because Michigan rejects the "HCE" shortcut.

🏭 Manufacturing

Grand Rapids & Statewide: Failing to pay for "donning and doffing" protective gear, or rounding hours down to avoid overtime.

πŸ’ Agriculture

Seasonal Workers: Misapplying the agricultural exemption to workers who are processing/canning goods rather than just harvesting.

πŸ₯ Healthcare

Nurses & Aides: Automatic lunch deductions when you work through your break, or using "bi-weekly" 80-hour overtime rules which Michigan law generally rejects (favoring strict 40-hour weeks).

πŸ”Œ Utilities

Linemen & Field Techs: Unpaid travel time in company vehicles, or failing to pay for "on-call" time when restrictions are heavy.

🍽️ Hospitality

Servers & Bartenders: Invalid tip pools (sharing tips with managers/cooks) or failing to make up the difference if tips don't reach minimum wage.

Common Violations by Michigan Region

πŸ“ Metro Detroit

Auto, Engineering & Tech:

  • Engineers: "HCE" Misclassification
  • Line Leads: Unpaid Pre-shift
  • Contractors: 1099 schemes

πŸ“ West Michigan

Manufacturing & Healthcare:

  • Factory: Unpaid prep time
  • Nurses: Lunch break deductions
  • Furniture: Shift diff errors

πŸ“ Agricultural Areas

Farming & Processing:

  • Seasonal: Incorrect exemptions
  • Cannery: OT violations
  • H-2A: Contract violations

What You Can Recover

Michigan & Federal Damages

πŸ’° Liquidated Damages

Under both Michigan and Federal Law, you are typically entitled to "Liquidated Damages," effectively doubling your unpaid wages (getting $2 for every $1 owed).

πŸ“… 3-Year "Hard" Lookback

Michigan WOWA law allows a 3-year statute of limitations for all claims, without needing to prove the employer's violation was "willful" (unlike the FLSA 2-year base).

πŸ“‹ Attorney Fees

Both state and federal laws mandate that the employer pays your legal fees and court costs if you win.

Why Michigan Law Matters

Michigan offers specific advantages for workers, particularly a longer statute of limitations and stronger protections for high earners and small businesses.

πŸ“…
3-Year Statute
3 years to sue for unpaid wages without needing to prove "willfulness."
πŸ›‘
No HCE Loophole
Michigan rejects the "Highly Compensated Employee" shortcut exemption.
πŸ’°
Liquidated Damages
Potential for double damages under both state and federal statutes.

Why Choose Our National Wage Recovery Team

While Paul M. Botros is licensed in Texas and Florida, we successfully help Michigan workers recover unpaid wages in federal and state courts.

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Federal Strength
National FLSA Strategy
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Local Power
Partnered with Local Counsel
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Exclusive Focus
100% Wage & Hour Law

We Level the Playing Field

Large employers have legal teams. With our national network, so do you.

Paul leads every case personally β€” strategy, negotiations, and courtroom work. Outside Texas and Florida, he appears by pro hac vice admission (the standard court permission that lets an out-of-state attorney litigate your case) and works alongside local counsel who handle state-specific procedure. This is how national wage-and-hour cases are litigated everywhere β€” your case is never simply referred out.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum wage in Michigan for 2026?

As of January 1, 2026, the Michigan minimum wage is $13.73 per hour. This large increase (from 2025) significantly benefits minimum wage workers and sets a higher basement for overtime calculations compared to the federal $7.25.

Can my employer avoid paying overtime because they are "small"?

Likely not. While federal law has a $500,000 revenue threshold, Michigan's Workforce Opportunity Wage Act (WOWA) applies to employers with 2 or more employees even if they are smaller. This closes the gap for many local businesses.

Am I exempt from overtime if I am "Highly Compensated"?

No. Michigan law does not recognize the federal "Highly Compensated Employee" (HCE) shortcut. Under federal law, earning over $107k+ can make you exempt with fewer duties testsβ€”but in Michigan, your employer must prove you meet the full Executive, Administrative, or Professional duties test regardless of your salary. This is a common violation for tech workers and engineers.

How far back can I sue for unpaid wages in Michigan?

Michigan law provides a 3-year statute of limitations for all minimum wage and overtime claims, without requiring you to prove the violation was "willful." This is a significant advantage over federal law, which defaults to 2 years.

Does Michigan require lunch breaks?

Michigan state law does not require meal breaks for adult employees (18+). However, if your employer does provide a break (e.g., 30 minutes), they do not have to pay you for it only if you are completely relieved of duties. If you work through lunch, you must be paid.

Can I be an independent contractor in a factory?

It is very rare for factory or line workers to differ genuinely be independent contractors. If you are told what to do, when to work, and used company equipment, you are likely an employee misclassified as a 1099 contractor to avoid overtime and taxes.

Is mandatory overtime legal in Michigan?

Yes β€” Michigan employers can require overtime and schedule you for it without notice. What's illegal is not paying for it: every hour over 40 earns 1.5x pay, whether you volunteered or were forced.

Do tipped workers get overtime in Michigan?

Yes, and the math matters: your overtime rate must be based on Michigan's full minimum wage ($13.73/hr) β€” not your $5.49 tipped cash wage. Calculating OT off the tipped rate is one of the most common restaurant wage violations.

Get Your Free Case Evaluation

Attorney review of your overtime claim. No fees unless we win. Use the calculator above to estimate your recovery, then contact us for a detailed case analysis.

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