Small Business Association of Michigan

Many employers have social media, code of conduct, and respectful workplace policies designed to support a productive work environment and protect the organization’s reputation. As employees increasingly share their views on political events, social issues, and government actions through social media and other public platforms, HR professionals are often faced with difficult questions about the limits of employee speech. When can an employer take action based on an employee’s off-duty comments?

Michigan employers may want to keep a close eye on proposed legislation that could significantly impact how organizations communicate with employees outside of scheduled work hours.

Many organizations are moving quickly to incorporate AI into everyday work. Senior leaders often assume employees share that enthusiasm, but recent research suggests the picture is more complicated. According to People Element’s 2026 Employee Engagement Report, based on feedback from more than 94,000 employees, 76% of executives believe employees are excited about AI. However, only 31% of employees say they actually are.

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Treasury today announced that individuals and businesses in three Michigan counties are now eligible for state tax extension relief. On July 9, 2026, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency for Antrim, Cheboygan, and Emmet counties after an intense rainstorm caused widespread flooding, which severely damaged roads and other infrastructure on June 29, 2026.

A new Gallup survey found that Americans’ confidence in major institutions remains near historic lows, continuing a long-term trend of declining trust across many sectors of society. Gallup reports that average confidence across 14 major institutions stands at 27%, with many institutions at or near their lowest recorded levels. Yet amid those declines, small businesses continue to stand apart.

Important changes in Michigan unemployment law are coming over the next week that will significantly impact unemployed workers and employers. Those receiving benefits must complete and report more work search activities each week. Victims of domestic violence who leave their jobs will not be excluded from receiving benefits if they are otherwise eligible. Employers have greater flexibility to reduce worker hours while workers can make up lost pay with partial unemployment benefits.

Paid time off is one of the most valued employee benefits, yet many employees still hesitate to fully disconnect when they take it. They check email from the beach, respond to Teams messages while away, or return feeling as exhausted as when they left. For HR professionals, this raises an important question: Is the issue really PTO policy, or is it workplace culture?

Crying at work is more common than many leaders realize and can serve as a visible indicator of deeper workplace stress and burnout. Nearly half of U.S. workers report crying or coming close to crying at work, suggesting that emotional strain is becoming a widespread workforce issue rather than an isolated occurrence. Recent survey data reported that 49% of workers have cried or almost cried within the last six months, and 51% of employees reported crying at work within the last 30 days.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how employers manage hiring, employee relations, performance management, and workforce planning. While these tools can improve efficiency, they can also create significant legal, compliance, and employee-relations concerns when used without proper oversight.

Article courtesy of MIRS for SBAM’s Lansing Watchdog newsletter Gov.