Millions Recovered
For Unpaid Workers
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.
No fees unless we win. We only get paid when you do.
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).
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 |
Detroit & Big Three: Independent contractor misclassification for design/engineering consultants. Engineers earning high salaries often misclassified because Michigan rejects the "HCE" shortcut.
Grand Rapids & Statewide: Failing to pay for "donning and doffing" protective gear, or rounding hours down to avoid overtime.
Seasonal Workers: Misapplying the agricultural exemption to workers who are processing/canning goods rather than just harvesting.
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).
Linemen & Field Techs: Unpaid travel time in company vehicles, or failing to pay for "on-call" time when restrictions are heavy.
Servers & Bartenders: Invalid tip pools (sharing tips with managers/cooks) or failing to make up the difference if tips don't reach minimum wage.
Auto, Engineering & Tech:
Manufacturing & Healthcare:
Farming & Processing:
Under both Michigan and Federal Law, you are typically entitled to "Liquidated Damages," effectively doubling your unpaid wages (getting $2 for every $1 owed).
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).
Both state and federal laws mandate that the employer pays your legal fees and court costs if you win.
Michigan offers specific advantages for workers, particularly a longer statute of limitations and stronger protections for high earners and small businesses.
While Paul M. Botros is licensed in Texas and Florida, we successfully help Michigan workers recover unpaid wages through our network of skilled Michigan attorneys. We partner with experienced local counsel or obtain special admission (pro hac vice) to ensure you get both specialized wage and hour expertise and local court advantage.
We Level the Playing Field
Large employers have legal teams. With our national network, so do you.
Expert legal 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.