Wrongful Termination in Michigan
Wrongful termination protections in Michigan
Michigan provides strong protections with the broadest employer coverage (1+ employees) and the unique inclusion of height and weight as protected classes.
Discrimination protections
| State anti-discrimination law? | Yes |
|---|---|
| State enforcement agency | Michigan Department of Civil Rights |
| Protected classes beyond federal law | height, weight, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity |
Filing deadlines and statute of limitations
| Discrimination claim deadline | 300 days |
|---|---|
| Details | 300-day EEOC filing deadline. State claims under the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act must be filed within 180 days with the state or 3 years in court. |
Whistleblower and retaliation protections
| Whistleblower protection? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Details | Michigan Whistleblowers' Protection Act (MCL 15.361-15.369) provides broad protections for employees who report legal violations. |
At-will exceptions recognized
| Public policy exception | Yes |
|---|---|
| Implied contract exception | Yes |
Additional state protections
Michigan Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act covers employers with 1+ employees. Michigan is notable for including height and weight as protected classes. In 2023, the state amended the act to include sexual orientation and gender identity.
Typical settlement ranges
$15,000 to $200,000 for typical cases.
Settlement amounts vary based on the specifics of each case. These ranges are general estimates, not predictions. Consult an employment attorney for guidance on your situation.
Key statutes
MCL SS 37.2101 et seq. (Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act); MCL SS 15.361-15.369 (Whistleblowers' Protection Act)
Wrongful Termination in Michigan: what you need to know
Wrongful termination in Michigan occurs when an employer fires an employee for an illegal reason. While most employment in Michigan is at-will (meaning either party can end the relationship at any time), there are important exceptions. Michigan provides strong protections with the broadest employer coverage (1+ employees) and the unique inclusion of height and weight as protected classes. Understanding what qualifies as wrongful termination is important because not every unfair firing is illegal, but many workers have more protections than they realize.
Michigan has its own anti-discrimination law that provides protections beyond the federal baseline. In addition to the federally protected categories (race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, and genetic information), Michigan also protects workers from discrimination based on height, weight, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity. This means that termination based on any of these characteristics may give rise to a wrongful termination claim under both state and federal law.
Michigan provides whistleblower protections for employees who report illegal activity or safety violations. Michigan Whistleblowers' Protection Act (MCL 15.361-15.369) provides broad protections for employees who report legal violations. If you were fired for reporting wrongdoing by your employer, you may have a wrongful termination claim based on whistleblower retaliation. These protections are critical because they encourage workers to speak up about illegal or dangerous practices without fear of losing their jobs.
The statute of limitations for wrongful termination claims in Michigan varies depending on the type of claim. 300-day EEOC filing deadline. State claims under the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act must be filed within 180 days with the state or 3 years in court. Acting quickly is important because missing a filing deadline can permanently bar your claim, even if the termination was clearly illegal. If you believe you were wrongfully terminated, consult an employment attorney as soon as possible to understand your deadlines.
If you believe you were wrongfully terminated in Michigan, the most important step is to document everything. Save any emails, text messages, or written communications related to the termination. Write down what happened while the details are fresh in your memory, including the date, who was present, and what was said. Note any witnesses who can corroborate your account. This documentation can be critical to your case.
More Michigan workplace laws
Check other workplace law topics for Michigan:
Frequently asked questions about wrongful termination in Michigan
Wrongful termination occurs when your employer fires you for an illegal reason, such as discrimination based on a protected characteristic, retaliation for exercising a legal right (like filing a workers' comp claim), or violating a specific state protection.
300-day EEOC filing deadline. State claims under the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act must be filed within 180 days with the state or 3 years in court.
Yes. Michigan has whistleblower protection laws. Michigan Whistleblowers' Protection Act (MCL 15.361-15.369) provides broad protections for employees who report legal violations.
Being fired without a stated reason is not automatically wrongful termination. In an at-will state, your employer does not have to give a reason. However, if the real reason for your termination was illegal (discrimination, retaliation, etc.), you may still have a claim even if no reason was officially given.
Document everything: save communications, write down what happened, and identify witnesses. File a complaint with Michigan Department of Civil Rights or the federal EEOC. Consult an employment attorney as soon as possible, as filing deadlines can be short.