LEGAL DAY'S WORK

Act 137 of 1885

AN ACT making 10 hours a legal day's work.


History: 1885, Act 137, Eff. Sept. 19, 1885




The People of the State of Michigan enact:


408.401 Legal work day; overtime.

Sec. 1.

     That in all factories, workshops, salt blocks, saw-mills, logging or lumber camps, booms or drives, mines or other places used for mechanical, manufacturing, or other purposes within the state of Michigan, where men or women are employed, 10 hours per day shall constitute a legal day's work; and any proprietor, stockholder, manager, clerk, foreman, or other employers of labor who shall require any person or persons in their employ to perform more than 10 hours per day, shall be compelled to pay such employes for all overtime or extra hours at the regular per diem rate, unless there be an agreement to the contrary.


History: 1885, Act 137, Eff. Sept. 19, 1885 ;-- How. 1997a-5 ;-- CL 1897, 5453 ;-- CL 1915, 5587 ;-- CL 1929, 8486 ;-- CL 1948, 408.401





408.402 Legal work day; nonspecific contracts.

Sec. 2.

     That in all contracts, engagements, or agreements to labor in any mechanical, manufacturing, or other labor calling, where such contracts or agreements are silent, or no express conditions specified, 10 hours shall constitute a day's work, and the contract or agreement shall be so construed.


History: 1885, Act 137, Eff. Sept. 19, 1885 ;-- How. 1997a-6 ;-- CL 1897, 5454 ;-- CL 1915, 5588 ;-- CL 1929, 8487 ;-- CL 1948, 408.402





408.403 Invalidating provisions of preceding section as misdemeanor; penalty; prosecution.

Sec. 3.

     Any individual, firm, agent of any corporation, or other employers of labor who shall take any unlawful advantage of any person or persons in their employ, or seeking employment, because of their poverty or misfortune, to invalidate any of the provisions of the preceding section, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $5.00, nor more than $50.00 for each offense, and it shall be the duty of the prosecuting attorney of the county in which such offense was committed, upon receiving complaint, to prosecute all such cases in the name of the people of the state of Michigan.


History: 1885, Act 137, Eff. Sept. 19, 1885 ;-- How. 1997a-7 ;-- CL 1897, 5455 ;-- CL 1915, 5589 ;-- CL 1929, 8488 ;-- CL 1948, 408.403 ;-- Am. 1990, Act 223, Imd. Eff. Oct. 8, 1990





408.404 Fines; disposition.

Sec. 4.

     All fines collected for violation of this act shall be turned over to the school board, or board of education of the city or township wherein such fine may be collected, and the same shall by them be disbursed for and in benefit of the public schools.


History: 1885, Act 137, Eff. Sept. 19, 1885 ;-- How. 1997a-8 ;-- CL 1897, 5456 ;-- CL 1915, 5590 ;-- CL 1929, 8489 ;-- CL 1948, 408.404





408.405 Construction of act as to exempt employees.

Sec. 5.

     Nothing in this act shall be construed to apply to domestic or farm laborers, or other laborers who agree to work more than 10 hours per day.


History: 1885, Act 137, Eff. Sept. 19, 1885 ;-- How. 1997a-9 ;-- CL 1897, 5457 ;-- CL 1915, 5591 ;-- CL 1929, 8490 ;-- CL 1948, 408.405



Rendered 8/15/2025 12:15 PM
Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 5 of 2025
Courtesy of legislature.mi.gov