Bill > HB4448

This bill, known as the "Wrongful Discharge from Employment Act," establishes comprehensive protections for employees against unjust termination in Michigan. The bill defines key terms like "constructive discharge" (when an employer creates such intolerable work conditions that resignation becomes the only reasonable option), "just cause" (reasonable job-related grounds for dismissal), and "wrongful discharge" (termination that occurs in retaliation for refusing to violate public policy, without just cause after completing probation, or in violation of the employer's own written personnel policies). The legislation limits probationary employment periods to a maximum of three months and requires employers to provide fair and objective investigations before terminating an employee, including notifying employees of workplace policies, conducting unbiased investigations, and applying policies without discrimination. Employees who believe they have been wrongfully discharged can either file a lawsuit within two years or submit a complaint to the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity within one year, potentially receiving damages for lost wages and fringe benefits, and in cases of malicious retaliation, punitive damages. The bill also empowers the department to investigate complaints, mediate disputes, and impose administrative fines up to $500 for willful violations, while ensuring that the act does not limit other legal protections for employees and applies to both public and private employers.

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https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-HB-4448