As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 28, 2000 -
                                                  Registration No. _____________


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                               HERMAN MILLER, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          Michigan                                        38-0837640
(State or other jurisdiction of             (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 incorporation or organization)

        855 East Main Avenue, P.O. Box 302, Zeeland, Michigan 49464-0302
           (Address of Principal Executive Offices Including Zip Code)

               Herman Miller, Inc. 2000 Employee Stock Option Plan
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

   James E. Christenson, 855 East Main Avenue, P.O. Box 302, Zeeland, Michigan
                                   49464-0302
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

                                 (616) 654-3000
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                          Copies of Communications to:
                              Michael G. Wooldridge
                    Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett LLP
                         Bridgewater Place, P.O. Box 352
                        Grand Rapids, Michigan 49501-0352
                                 (616) 336-6000
<TABLE>
                                           CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
=========================================================================================================================
                                                            Proposed               Proposed
                                                             Maximum                Maximum               Amount of
    Title of Securities            Amount to be          Offering Price            Aggregate            Registration
     to be Registered               Registered            Per Share (1)        Offering Price(1)             Fee
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                   <C>                  <C>                   <C>                       <C>
Common Stock                          800,000              $30.6875              $24,550,000              $6,482
($.20 par value)
=========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
(1)  For the purpose of computing the  registration fee only, the price shown is
     based upon the price of $30.6875 per share, the average of the high and low
     sale prices for the Common  Stock of the  Registrant  in the NASDAQ  Market
     System on July 26, 2000, in accordance with Rule 457(h).
<PAGE>
                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

     Information  required  by  Part  I to be  contained  in the  Section  10(a)
Prospectus is omitted from this  Registration  Statement in accordance with Rule
428 of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Note to Part I of Form S-8.

                                     PART II

                 INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference

     The  Registrant's  Annual  Report on Form  10-K for the year  ended May 29,
1999,  which has been  filed by the  Registrant  with the  Commission  (File No.
0-5813),  are incorporated  herein by reference.  All other reports filed by the
Registrant  pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the  "Exchange  Act") since the end of the fiscal year covered
by the  foregoing  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  are  incorporated  herein  by
reference.  All other reports or documents  filed by the Registrant  pursuant to
the  requirements  of Sections  13(a),  13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act,
subsequent  to the date hereof and prior to the  termination  of the offering of
the securities  offered hereby shall be deemed to be  incorporated  by reference
herein  and to be a part  hereof  from the date of  filing  of such  reports  or
documents.  Any  statement  contained  in  a  document  incorporated  herein  by
reference  shall be deemed to be modified  or  superseded  for  purposes of this
Registration  Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein modifies
or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Registration Statement.

     The description of the  Registrant's  Common Stock, the class of securities
offered  pursuant  to  this   Registration   Statement,   is  contained  in  the
Registrant's Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange
Act,  and  is  incorporated  herein  by  reference,   including  any  subsequent
amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating that description.

Item 4.  Description of Securities

     Not Applicable

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

     Not applicable

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

     The Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant  provide that its directors
and officers are required to be  indemnified  as of right to the fullest  extent
permitted  under the Michigan  Business  Corporation  Act ("MBCA") in connection
with any actual or threatened civil,  criminal,  administrative or investigative
action, suit or proceeding (whether brought by or in the name of the Registrant,
a subsidiary  or otherwise) in which a director or officer is a witness or which
is brought  against a director o officer in his or her  capacity  as a director,
officer,  employee,  agent or fiduciary of the Registrant or of any corporation,
partnership,  joint venture,  trust,  employee  benefit plan or other enterprise
which the  director or officer  was  serving at the  request of the  Registrant.
Persons who are not  directors  or officers of the  Registrant  may be similarly
indemnified in respect of said service to the extent  authorized by the Board of
Directors of the Registrant.  Under the MBCA, directors,  officers, employees or
agents are entitled to  indemnification  against  expenses  (including  attorney
fees) whenever they successfully  defend legal proceedings  brought against them
by reason of the fact that they hold such a  position  with the  Registrant.  In
addition,  with  respect  to  actions  not  brought  by or in the  right  of the
Registrant,  indemnification is permitted under the MBCA for expenses (including
attorney fees),

                                      S-1
<PAGE>
judgments,  fines, penalties and reasonable settlements if it is determined that
the person seeking  indemnification  acted in a good faith and in a manner he or
she  reasonably  believed to be in and not  opposed to the best  interest of the
Registrant or its shareholders and, with respect to criminal proceedings,  he or
she had no  reasonable  cause to believe  that his or her conduct was  unlawful.
With  respect  to  actions  brought  by or  in  the  right  of  the  Registrant,
indemnification  is permitted  under the MBCA for expenses  (including  attorney
fees) and  reasonable  settlement,  if it is determined  that the person seeking
indemnification  acted  in  good  faith  and in a  manner  he or she  reasonably
believed to be in and not opposed to the best interest of the  Registrant or its
shareholders;  provided, indemnification is not permitted if the person is found
liable to the  Registrant,  unless  the  court in which  the  action or suit was
brought has determined  that  indemnification  is fair and reasonable in view of
all the circumstances of the case.

     The MBCA and the Registrant's  Articles of Incorporation also authorize the
Registrant  to provide  indemnification  broader than that set forth in the MBCA
and the Articles of  Incorporation.  Pursuant to this authority,  the Registrant
has entered into  indemnification  agreements with each of its directors,  which
provide  for the prompt  indemnification  to the  fullest  extent  permitted  by
applicable law and for the prompt advancement of expenses,  including reasonable
attorney fees, incurred in connection with any proceeding in which a director is
a witness or which is brought  against a director  in his or her  capacity  as a
director,  officer,  employee,  agent or fiduciary of the  Registrant  or of any
corporation,  partnership,  joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
enterprise  which the  director  is  serving at the  request of the  Registrant.
Indemnification  is permitted  for expenses and  reasonable  settlement  amounts
incurred in connection  with a proceeding  by or in the right of the  Registrant
and for expenses, judgments,  penalties, fines and reasonable settlement amounts
incurred in connection with the proceeding  other than by or in the right of the
Registrant. Indemnification under the indemnity agreements is conditioned on the
director  having  acted  in good  faith  and in a  manner  he or she  reasonably
believes to be in or not opposed to the best  interest  of the  Registrant  and,
with respect to any criminal  proceeding,  he or she had no reasonable  cause to
believe his or her conduct was  unlawful.  The Articles of Incorporation  of the
Registrant  also  limit  the  personal  liability  of  members  of its  Board of
Directors for monetary  damages with respect to claims by the  Registrant or its
shareholders resulting from certain negligent acts or omissions.

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.

     Not Applicable.

Item 8.  Exhibits.

     Reference is made to the Exhibit Index which appears on page S-6.

Item 9.  Undertakings.

     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

     (1) To file,  during any period in which  offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

          (i) To include  any  prospectus  required  by Section  10(a)(3) of the
     Securities Act of 1933;

          (ii) To reflect in the  prospectus  any facts or events  arising after
     the  effective  date of the  registration  statement  (or the  most  recent
     post-effective amendment thereof) which,  individually or in the aggregate,
     represents  a  fundamental  change  in the  information  set  forth  in the
     registration statement;

          (iii) To include any material  information with respect to the plan of
     distribution not previously disclosed in the registration  statement or any
     material  change  to  such  information  in  the  registration   statement;
     provided,  however,  that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the
     registration  statement  is on  Form  S-3 or Form  S-8 and the  information
     required to be included in a  post-effective  amendment by those paragraphs
     is contained in periodic reports

                                      S-2
<PAGE>
     filed by the  registrant  pursuant  to Section  13 or Section  15(d) of the
     Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 that are  incorporated by reference in the
     registration statement.

     (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933,  each  such  post-effective  amendment  shall be deemed to be a new
registration  statement  relating to the  securities  offered  therein,  and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

     (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective  amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.

     The  undersigned   registrant  hereby  undertakes  that,  for  purposes  of
determining  any liability  under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to Section  13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, and each filing of an employee  benefit plan's
annual report  pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934
that is incorporated by reference in the registration  statement shall be deemed
to be a new registration  statement  relating to the securities offered therein,
and the  offering  of such  securities  at that  time  shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers and controlling  persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,  the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities  and Exchange  Commission
such  indemnification  is against  public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore,  unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities  (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director,  officer or  controlling  person of the Registrant in the
successful  defense of any  action,  suit or  proceeding)  is  asserted  by such
director,  officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,  submit to a court of  appropriate
jurisdiction  the question whether such  indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed by the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.


                                      S-3
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies  that it has  reasonable  grounds to believe  that it meets all of the
requirements  for  filing  on Form S-8 and has  duly  caused  this  Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized,  in the City of Zeeland, State of Michigan, on the 20th day of July,
2000.

                                      HERMAN MILLER, INC.

                                      By /s/ Michael A. Volkema
                                         Michael A. Volkema, President and Chief
                                         Executive Officer


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,  that each person whose  signature  appears
below constitutes and appoints Michael A. Volkema and David L. Nelson,  and each
of them, his or her true and lawful  attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power
of substitution  and  resubstitution,  for him and in his or her name, place and
stead,  in any and all  capacities,  to sign any and all  amendments  (including
post-effective  amendments) to this Registration Statement and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and any other regulatory authority,  granting
unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform
each and every act and thing  required and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in
person,  hereby  ratifying and  confirming  all that said  attorney-in-fact  and
agent, or his or her  substitute,  may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

     Pursuant  to  the   requirements  of  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
Registration  Statement has been signed below on July 20, 2000, by the following
persons in the capacities indicated.

/s/ Michael A. Volkema                          /s/ Elizabeth A. Nickels
Michael A. Volkema, Director,                   Elizabeth A. Nickels,
President and Chief Executive                   Principal Financial Officer
Officer (Principal Executive Officer)           and Principal Accounting Officer


/s/ C. William Pollard                          /s/ David L. Nelson
C. William Pollard, Director                    David L. Nelson, Director and
                                                Chairman of the Board


/s/ Ruth A. Reister                             /s/ Dorothy A. Terrell
Ruth A. Reister, Director                       Dorothy A. Terrell, Director


____________________________________            /s/ Mary Vermeer Andringa
J. Harold Chandler, Director                    Mary Vermeer Andringa, Director


/s/ Brian Griffiths                             /s/ Thomas C. Pratt
Brian Griffiths, Lord Griffiths of              Thomas C. Pratt, Director
Fforestfach, Director


/s/ E. David Crockett                           /s/ Richard H. Ruch
E. David Crockett, Director                     Richard H. Ruch, Director


                                       S-4
<PAGE>
                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


     As independent public  accountants,  we hereby consent to the incorporation
by reference in this  Registration  Statement on Form S-8 for the Herman Miller,
Inc. 2000 Employee Stock Option Plan of our report dated June 25, 1999, included
in Herman  Miller,  Inc.'s Form 10-K for the year ended May 29, 1999, and to all
references to our Firm included in this Registration Statement.



                                             /s/ Arthur Andersen
                                             ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP





Grand Rapids, Michigan
July 20, 2000



                                       S-5
<PAGE>
                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

     The following exhibits are filed as a part of the Registration Statement:




Item 4         Herman Miller, Inc. 2000 Employee Stock Option Plan

Item 5         Opinion of Varnum, Riddering,  Schmidt & Howlett LLP with respect
               to the legality of the securities being registered

Item 23.1      Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP - included on page S-5 hereof

Item 23.2      Consent of Varnum,  Riddering,  Schmidt & Howlett  LLP  (included
               with the opinion filed as Exhibit 5)

Item 24        Power of Attorney - included on page S-4 hereof






                                       S-6
<PAGE>






                               HERMAN MILLER, INC.


                         2000 EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN






                                   EXHIBIT 4
<PAGE>
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                            Page

ARTICLE 1  ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE OF THE PLAN...............................1

   1.1   Establishment of the Plan.............................................1
   1.2   Purpose of the Plan...................................................1

ARTICLE 2 DEFINITIONS..........................................................1


ARTICLE 3 PARTICIPATION; ADMINISTRATION........................................2

   3.1   Participation.........................................................2
   3.2   Administration........................................................3

ARTICLE 4 TERMS OF OPTIONS.....................................................3

   4.1   Participant's Agreement...............................................3
   4.2   Shares Subject to Option..............................................3
   4.3   Option Price..........................................................3
   4.4   Option Term...........................................................3
   4.5   Exercisability........................................................3
   4.6   Method of Exercise....................................................3
   4.7   Nontransferability of Options.........................................3
   4.8   Termination of Employment for Reasons other than
         Retirement, Disability, or Death......................................4
   4.9   Termination of Employment for Retirement or Disability................4
   4.10  Termination of Employment for Death...................................4
   4.11  Termination of Options................................................4

ARTICLE 5 TERMINATION OR AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN.................................4


ARTICLE 6 UNFUNDED PLAN........................................................5


ARTICLE 7 ADJUSTMENT PROVISIONS................................................5

   7.1   Antidilution..........................................................5
   7.2   Change in Control.....................................................5
   7.3   Adjustments by Committee..............................................5

ARTICLE 8 GENERAL PROVISIONS...................................................5

   8.1   Legend................................................................5
   8.2   No Right to Employment................................................6
   8.3   Withholding of Taxes..................................................6
   8.4   No Assignment of Benefits.............................................6
   8.5   Governing Law.........................................................6

                                       -i-
<PAGE>
   8.6   Application of Funds..................................................6
   8.7   Rights as a Shareholder...............................................6









                                      -ii-
<PAGE>
                               HERMAN MILLER, INC.
                         2000 EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN


                                    ARTICLE 1
                      ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

     1.1 Establishment of the Plan. Herman Miller,  Inc., a Michigan corporation
(the  "Company"),  hereby  establishes  a stock  option  plan to be known as the
"Herman  Miller,  Inc. 2000 Employee  Stock Option Plan" (the "Plan").  The Plan
permits the grant of nonqualified stock options to full- and part-time employees
of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  who are not eligible to participate in the
Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan ("Participant").  The Plan is effective as of
June 29, 2000 (the "Effective Date").

     1.2 Purpose of the Plan. The purpose of the Plan is to reward  Participants
for their  individual and collective  contributions  to the Company and, through
stock-based  awards,  incent  Participants  to  continue  to  contribute  to the
Company's long-term success.

                                    ARTICLE 2
                                   DEFINITIONS

     For purposes of this Plan, the following  terms have the meanings set forth
below:

     2.1 "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

     2.2 "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

     2.3 "Committee" shall mean the Executive Compensation Committee.

     2.4 "Common  Stock" shall mean the Common Stock,  $.20 par value per share,
of the Company.

     2.5  "Disability"  shall mean permanent and total  disability as determined
under the rules and guidelines  established by the Committee for purposes of the
Plan.

     2.6 "Fair  Market  Value"  shall be the mean between the highest and lowest
sales  prices  per  share of the  Common  Stock  for such  date on the  National
Association of Securities  Dealers  Automated  Quotation System or any successor
system then in use ("NASDAQ"). If no sale of shares of Common Stock is reflected
on the NASDAQ on a date,  "Fair Market  Value" shall be  determined  on the next
preceding  day on which there was a sale of shares of Common Stock  reflected on
NASDAQ.

     2.7 "Grant Date" shall mean July 5, 2000.

                                      -1-
<PAGE>
     2.8 "Option" shall mean an option to purchase  shares of Common Stock which
is not an incentive stock option under the terms and requirements of Section 422
of the Code.

     2.9 "Option  Price"  shall mean the price at which a share of Common  Stock
may be purchased by a Participant pursuant to an Option.

     2.10  "Participant"  shall mean an Employee of the Company or a  Subsidiary
who receives an Option under this Plan.

     2.11 "Retirement" shall mean the termination of a Participant's  employment
with the Company or a Subsidiary after the Participant attains normal retirement
age as established by the Committee.

     2.12 "Subsidiary"  shall mean any Domestic  Subsidiary or any International
Subsidiary.  "Domestic  Subsidiary"  shall mean any entity  incorporated  in the
United  States or  Canada in which the  Company  owns  directly,  or  indirectly
through  subsidiaries,  one hundred  percent (100%) of the total combined voting
power of all classes of stock,  or any other entity  organized or established in
the United States or Canada  (including,  but not limited to,  partnerships  and
joint  ventures) in which the Company owns  directly or  indirectly  one hundred
percent (100%) of the combined equity thereof.  "International Subsidiary" shall
mean any entity  not  incorporated  in the United  States or Canada in which the
Company  owns  directly  or  indirectly  through the  subsidiaries,  one hundred
percent  (100%) of the total combined  voting power of all classes of stock,  or
any other entity not  organized or  established  in the United  States or Canada
(including,  but not limited to,  partnerships  and joint ventures) in which the
Company owns one hundred percent (100%) of the combined equity thereof.

     2.13   "Termination  of  Employment"   shall  mean  the  termination  of  a
Participant's  employment  with  the  Company  or a  Subsidiary.  A  Participant
employed  by a  Subsidiary  shall  also be  deemed  to  incur a  Termination  of
Employment if the Subsidiary  ceases to be a Subsidiary and the Participant does
not  immediately  thereafter  become  an  employee  of the  Company  or  another
Subsidiary.

                                    ARTICLE 3
                          PARTICIPATION; ADMINISTRATION

     3.1  Participation.  Each  person who was  employed by the  Company,  or an
entity that is a Domestic  Subsidiary  as of the  Effective  Date, on a full- or
part-time  basis as of June 1, 1999,  and was not eligible to participate in the
Herman Miller,  Inc.  Long-Term  Incentive Plan as of the Effective Date,  shall
receive  an Option  under  the  terms of  Article 4 of this Plan as of the Grant
Date. The Committee designated under Section 3.2 below, shall have the authority
to grant options under this Plan to employees of International Subsidiaries.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
     3.2  Administration.  The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.  The
Committee  has the  authority  to adopt,  alter and repeal  such  administrative
rules,  guidelines  and practices  governing the Plan as it shall,  from time to
time,  deem  advisable,  to interpret  the terms and  provisions  of the Plan. A
majority of the Committee  constitutes a quorum, and the acts of a majority of a
quorum at any  meeting,  or acts reduced to or approved in writing by a majority
of the members of the Committee,  shall be the valid acts of the Committee.  The
interpretation  and  construction by the Committee of any provisions of the Plan
or any  Option  granted  under  the Plan  shall be final  and  binding  upon the
Company, the Board and Participants, including their respective heirs, executors
and  assigns.  No member of the Board or the  Committee  shall be liable for any
action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan.


                                    ARTICLE 4
                                TERMS OF OPTIONS

     4.1 Participant's Agreement. Each Participant must remain in the continuous
employ of the Company for a period of at least twelve (12) months from the Grant
Date or until Retirement or Disability, if Retirement or Disability occurs prior
to twelve (12) months from the Grant Date.  This Agreement shall not impose upon
the Company or any Subsidiary  any  obligation to retain the  Participant in its
employ for any period.

     4.2 Shares Subject to Option.  Each Option shall entitle the Participant to
purchase one hundred (100) shares of the Company's Common Stock.

     4.3 Option  Price.  The Option Price per share of Common Stock  purchasable
under an Option shall be one hundred  percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of
the Common Stock at the Grant Date.

     4.4 Option Term.  The term of each Option shall be ten (10) years after the
Grant Date.

     4.5  Exercisability.  Except as provided in Sections 4.9 and 7.2 below,  no
Option  shall be  exercisable  in either in whole or in part  prior to the first
anniversary  of the Grant Date.  Thereafter,  an Option shall be  exercisable in
accordance with the terms of this Plan.

     4.6 Method of Exercise.  Options may be exercised only for the total number
of shares  covered by the Option,  by giving  written  notice of exercise to the
Company.  The notice  shall be  accompanied  by payment in full of the  purchase
price in cash only.  No shares of stock will be issued  until  payment  has been
made.

     4.7  Nontransferability  of  Options.  No Option may be sold,  transferred,
pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or
by the laws of descent  and  distribution.  All  Options  shall be  exercisable,
during the Participant's lifetime, only by the Participant.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
     4.8   Termination  of  Employment   for  Reasons  other  than   Retirement,
Disability,  or Death.  Upon Termination of Employment for any reason other than
Retirement  or on  account  of  Disability  or death,  each  Option  held by the
Participant  shall,  to the extent  rights to purchase  shares under such Option
have accrued at the date of such  Termination of  Employment,  be exercisable at
any  time  within  a  period  of  three  (3)  months  following  Termination  of
Employment,  subject,  however,  to prior  expiration of the term of the Option.
Whether  an  authorized  leave of absence or  absence  because  of  military  or
governmental  service  shall  constitute  Termination  of  Employment  for  such
purposes  shall be determined by the  Committee,  which  determination  shall be
final and conclusive.

     4.9   Termination  of  Employment   for  Retirement  or  Disability.   Upon
Termination  of Employment by reason of  Retirement or  Disability,  each Option
held by such  Participant  shall be  exercisable  for a period of five (5) years
following  such  Termination  of  Employment,  subject,  however,  to the  prior
expiration  of the Option.  If the  Participant  dies after such  Retirement  or
Disability,  an Option  shall be  exercisable  in  accordance  with Section 4.10
below.

     4.10 Termination of Employment for Death. Upon Termination of Employment by
reason of death,  each  Option  held by such  Participant  shall,  to the extent
rights to purchase  shares under the Option has accrued at the date of death, be
exercisable by the personal representative of the Participant's estate or by any
person  or  persons  who  shall  have  acquired  the  Option  directly  from the
Participant by bequest or inheritance only under the following circumstances and
during the following periods:  (i) if the Participant dies while employed by the
Company or a Subsidiary,  at any time within five (5) years after his death,  or
(ii) if the  Participant  dies during the  extended  exercise  period  following
Termination  of  Employment  specified  in Section  4.9,  at any time within the
longer of such extended period or one (1) year after death, subject, however, in
any case, to the prior expiration of the term of the Option.

     4.11  Termination  of Options.  Any Option  which is not  exercised  within
whichever of the exercise  periods  specified in Sections  4.8,  4.9, or 4.10 is
applicable shall terminate upon expiration of such exercise period.


                                   ARTICLE 5
                      TERMINATION OR AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN

     The Board may at any time amend,  discontinue or terminate this Plan or any
part  thereof  (including  any  amendment  deemed  necessary  to ensure that the
Company  may  comply  with any  applicable  regulatory  requirement);  provided,
however,  that,  unless  otherwise  required by law, the rights of a Participant
with respect to an Option  granted prior to such  amendment,  discontinuance  or
termination, may not be impaired without the consent of the Participant.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
                                    ARTICLE 6
                                  UNFUNDED PLAN

     This Plan is intended to constitute an "unfunded" plan. With respect to any
payment not yet made to a Participant by the Company,  nothing  contained herein
shall give any such  Participant  any rights  that are  greater  than those of a
general creditor of the Company.

                                    ARTICLE 7
                              ADJUSTMENT PROVISIONS

     7.1  Antidilution.  Subject  to the  provisions  of this  Article 7, if the
outstanding shares of Common Stock are increased,  decreased, or exchanged for a
different number or kind of shares or other securities,  or if additional shares
or new or different  shares or other  securities are distributed with respect to
such shares of Common Stock or other securities,  through merger, consolidation,
sale of all or substantially  all of the assets of the Company,  reorganization,
recapitalization,  reclassification,  stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock
split or other distribution with respect to such shares of Common Stock or other
securities,  an appropriate and proportionate  adjustment may be made in (i) the
number  and kind of shares  provided  in the Plan,  (ii) the  number and kind of
shares or other securities  subject to the then outstanding  Options,  and (iii)
the price for each  share or other unit of any other  securities  subject to the
then outstanding Options.

     7.2  Change  in  Control.   Notwithstanding   Sections  4.1  or  4.5,  upon
dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or upon a reorganization,  merger, or
consolidation of the Company with one or more  corporations as a result of which
the  Company  is not  the  surviving  corporation,  or upon  the  sale of all or
substantially all the assets of the Company,  all Options then outstanding under
the  Plan  will be  fully  vested  and  exercisable  and all  restrictions  will
immediately   cease,   unless  provisions  are  made  in  connection  with  such
transaction  for  the  continuance  of the  Plan  and the  assumption  of or the
substitution  for such Options of new Options  covering the stock of a successor
employer  corporation,  or a parent  or  subsidiary  thereof,  with  appropriate
adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices.

     7.3 Adjustments by Committee.  Any  adjustments  pursuant to this Article 7
will be made by the Committee,  whose  determination as to what adjustments will
be made and the  extent  thereof  will be final,  binding,  and  conclusive.  No
fractional  interest  will be  issued  under  the  Plan on  account  of any such
adjustments. Only cash payments will be made in lieu of fractional shares.


                                    ARTICLE 8
                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

     8.1 Legend.  The  Committee  may  require  each  person  purchasing  shares
pursuant to an Option  under the Plan to represent to and agree with the Company
in writing  that the  Participant  is  acquiring  the  shares  without a view to
distribution thereof. In addition to any legend required by this

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
Plan,  the  certificates  for such  shares  may  include  any  legend  which the
Committee deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on transfer.

     All  certificates for shares of Common Stock delivered under the Plan shall
be subject to such stock transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee
may deem advisable under the rules,  regulations  and other  requirements of the
Securities and Exchange  Commission,  NASDAQ,  any stock exchange upon which the
Common Stock is then listed, any applicable Federal or state securities law, and
any applicable corporate law, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to
be  placed  on any  such  certificates  to make  appropriate  reference  to such
restrictions.

     8.2 No Right to  Employment.  Neither this Plan nor the grant of any Option
hereunder shall give any Participant or other employee any right with respect to
continuance of employment by the Company or any Subsidiary, nor shall there be a
limitation in any way on the right of the Company or any  Subsidiary by which an
employee is employed to terminate his or her employment at any time.

     8.3 Withholding of Taxes. The Company shall require,  prior to the issuance
or delivery of any shares of Common Stock or the payment of any cash  hereunder,
payment by the Participant of, any Federal, state or local taxes required by law
to be withheld.

     8.4 No Assignment  of Benefits.  No benefits of any Option shall be subject
in  any  manner  to  anticipation,   alienation,   attachment,  sale,  transfer,
assignment,  pledge,  encumbrance  or charge,  and any  attempt  to  anticipate,
alienate,  attach, sell, transfer,  assign, pledge, encumber or charge, any such
benefits  shall be void,  and any such benefit shall not in any manner be liable
for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements or torts of any
person  who  shall be  entitled  to such  benefit,  nor shall it be  subject  to
attachment or legal process for or against such person.

     8.5 Governing Law. This Plan and actions taken in connection herewith shall
be governed and construed in  accordance  with the laws and in the courts of the
state of Michigan.

     8.6  Application  of Funds.  The proceeds  received by the Company from the
sale of shares of Common Stock pursuant to Options  granted under this Plan will
be used for general corporate purposes.

     8.7 Rights as a Shareholder.  Except as otherwise  provided in an Option, a
Participant shall have no rights as a shareholder of the Company until he or she
becomes the holder of record of Common Stock.


::ODMA\PCDOCS\GRR\439604\2

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
                                 July 20, 2000


Herman Miller, Inc.
855 East Main Avenue
Zeeland, Michigan 49464-0302

    Re:   Registration Statement on Form S-8 Relating to the Herman Miller, Inc.
          2000 Employee Stock Option Plan

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     With respect to the Registration  Statement on Form S-8 (the  "Registration
Statement") filed by Herman Miller, Inc., a Michigan corporation (the "Company")
with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission,  for the purpose of  registering
under the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  800,000 shares of the Company's
common stock,  par value $.20 per share,  for issuance  pursuant to the Plan, we
have  examined   documents  and  questions  of  law  we  consider  necessary  or
appropriate  for the  purpose  of  giving  this  opinion.  On the  basis of such
evaluation,  we advise you that in our opinion the 800,000 shares covered by the
Registration  Statement,  upon the  exercise  of stock  options,  at the  prices
described in the Registration Statement but not less than the par value thereof,
and upon  delivery of such shares and payment  therefor in  accordance  with the
terms  stated  in the  Plan  and the  Registration  Statement,  will be duly and
legally  authorized,  issued  and  outstanding,  and  will  be  fully  paid  and
nonassessable.

     We hereby  consent  to the  filing of this  opinion  as an  exhibit  to the
Registration  Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we
are within the category of persons whose consent is required  under Section 7 of
the  Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  or under the rules and  regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission relating thereto.

                                Very truly yours,

                    VARNUM, RIDDERING, SCHMIDT & HOWLETT LLP

                                       /s/

                              Michael G. Wooldridge


                                    EXHIBIT 5


::ODMA\PCDOCS\GRR\442353\1
                                       S-7
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "0001.txt", "secsgml_size_bytes": 40875}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "MILLER HERMAN INC", "cik": "0000066382", "assigned-sic": "2520", "irs-number": "380837640", "state-of-incorporation": "MI", "fiscal-year-end": "0531"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-42506", "film-number": "681310"}, "business-address": {"street1": "855 E MAIN AVE", "street2": "PO BOX 302", "city": "ZEELAND", "state": "MI", "zip": "49464-0302", "phone": "6166543000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "8500 BYRON RD", "city": "ZEELAND", "state": "MI", "zip": "49464"}, "former-company": [{"former-conformed-name": "MILLER HERMAN FURNITURE CO", "date-changed": "19690610"}, {"former-conformed-name": "STAR FURNITURE CO", "date-changed": "19671116"}, {"former-conformed-name": "MICHIGAN STAR FURNITURE CO", "date-changed": "19671116"}]}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 28, 2000 -
                                                  Registration No. _____________

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                               HERMAN MILLER, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          Michigan                                        38-0837640
(State or other jurisdiction of             (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 incorporation or organization)

        855 East Main Avenue, P.O. Box 302, Zeeland, Michigan 49464-0302
           (Address of Principal Executive Offices Including Zip Code)

               Herman Miller, Inc. 2000 Employee Stock Option Plan
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

   James E. Christenson, 855 East Main Avenue, P.O. Box 302, Zeeland, Michigan
                                   49464-0302
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

                                 (616) 654-3000
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                          Copies of Communications to:
                              Michael G. Wooldridge
                    Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett LLP
                         Bridgewater Place, P.O. Box 352
                        Grand Rapids, Michigan 49501-0352
                                 (616) 336-6000

                                           CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
=========================================================================================================================
                                                            Proposed               Proposed
                                                             Maximum                Maximum               Amount of
    Title of Securities            Amount to be          Offering Price            Aggregate            Registration
     to be Registered               Registered            Per Share (1)        Offering Price(1)             Fee
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock                          800,000              $30.6875              $24,550,000              $6,482
($.20 par value)
=========================================================================================================================
(1)  For the purpose of computing the  registration fee only, the price shown is
     based upon the price of $30.6875 per share, the average of the high and low
     sale prices for the Common  Stock of the  Registrant  in the NASDAQ  Market
     System on July 26, 2000, in accordance with Rule 457(h).
PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

     Information  required  by  Part  I to be  contained  in the  Section  10(a)
Prospectus is omitted from this  Registration  Statement in accordance with Rule
428 of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Note to Part I of Form S-8.

                                     PART II

                 INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference

     The  Registrant's  Annual  Report on Form  10-K for the year  ended May 29,
1999,  which has been  filed by the  Registrant  with the  Commission  (File No.
0-5813),  are incorporated  herein by reference.  All other reports filed by the
Registrant  pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the  "Exchange  Act") since the end of the fiscal year covered
by the  foregoing  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  are  incorporated  herein  by
reference.  All other reports or documents  filed by the Registrant  pursuant to
the  requirements  of Sections  13(a),  13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act,
subsequent  to the date hereof and prior to the  termination  of the offering of
the securities  offered hereby shall be deemed to be  incorporated  by reference
herein  and to be a part  hereof  from the date of  filing  of such  reports  or
documents.  Any  statement  contained  in  a  document  incorporated  herein  by
reference  shall be deemed to be modified  or  superseded  for  purposes of this
Registration  Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein modifies
or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Registration Statement.

     The description of the  Registrant's  Common Stock, the class of securities
offered  pursuant  to  this   Registration   Statement,   is  contained  in  the
Registrant's Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange
Act,  and  is  incorporated  herein  by  reference,   including  any  subsequent
amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating that description.

Item 4.  Description of Securities

     Not Applicable

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

     Not applicable

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

     The Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant  provide that its directors
and officers are required to be  indemnified  as of right to the fullest  extent
permitted  under the Michigan  Business  Corporation  Act ("MBCA") in connection
with any actual or threatened civil,  criminal,  administrative or investigative
action, suit or proceeding (whether brought by or in the name of the Registrant,
a subsidiary  or otherwise) in which a director or officer is a witness or which
is brought  against a director o officer in his or her  capacity  as a director,
officer,  employee,  agent or fiduciary of the Registrant or of any corporation,
partnership,  joint venture,  trust,  employee  benefit plan or other enterprise
which the  director or officer  was  serving at the  request of the  Registrant.
Persons who are not  directors  or officers of the  Registrant  may be similarly
indemnified in respect of said service to the extent  authorized by the Board of
Directors of the Registrant.  Under the MBCA, directors,  officers, employees or
agents are entitled to  indemnification  against  expenses  (including  attorney
fees) whenever they successfully  defend legal proceedings  brought against them
by reason of the fact that they hold such a  position  with the  Registrant.  In
addition,  with  respect  to  actions  not  brought  by or in the  right  of the
Registrant,  indemnification is permitted under the MBCA for expenses (including
attorney fees),

                                      S-1
judgments,  fines, penalties and reasonable settlements if it is determined that
the person seeking  indemnification  acted in a good faith and in a manner he or
she  reasonably  believed to be in and not  opposed to the best  interest of the
Registrant or its shareholders and, with respect to criminal proceedings,  he or
she had no  reasonable  cause to believe  that his or her conduct was  unlawful.
With  respect  to  actions  brought  by or  in  the  right  of  the  Registrant,
indemnification  is permitted  under the MBCA for expenses  (including  attorney
fees) and  reasonable  settlement,  if it is determined  that the person seeking
indemnification  acted  in  good  faith  and in a  manner  he or she  reasonably
believed to be in and not opposed to the best interest of the  Registrant or its
shareholders;  provided, indemnification is not permitted if the person is found
liable to the  Registrant,  unless  the  court in which  the  action or suit was
brought has determined  that  indemnification  is fair and reasonable in view of
all the circumstances of the case.

     The MBCA and the Registrant's  Articles of Incorporation also authorize the
Registrant  to provide  indemnification  broader than that set forth in the MBCA
and the Articles of  Incorporation.  Pursuant to this authority,  the Registrant
has entered into  indemnification  agreements with each of its directors,  which
provide  for the prompt  indemnification  to the  fullest  extent  permitted  by
applicable law and for the prompt advancement of expenses,  including reasonable
attorney fees, incurred in connection with any proceeding in which a director is
a witness or which is brought  against a director  in his or her  capacity  as a
director,  officer,  employee,  agent or fiduciary of the  Registrant  or of any
corporation,  partnership,  joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
enterprise  which the  director  is  serving at the  request of the  Registrant.
Indemnification  is permitted  for expenses and  reasonable  settlement  amounts
incurred in connection  with a proceeding  by or in the right of the  Registrant
and for expenses, judgments,  penalties, fines and reasonable settlement amounts
incurred in connection with the proceeding  other than by or in the right of the
Registrant. Indemnification under the indemnity agreements is conditioned on the
director  having  acted  in good  faith  and in a  manner  he or she  reasonably
believes to be in or not opposed to the best  interest  of the  Registrant  and,
with respect to any criminal  proceeding,  he or she had no reasonable  cause to
believe his or her conduct was  unlawful.  The Articles of Incorporation  of the
Registrant  also  limit  the  personal  liability  of  members  of its  Board of
Directors for monetary  damages with respect to claims by the  Registrant or its
shareholders resulting from certain negligent acts or omissions.

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.

     Not Applicable.

Item 8.  Exhibits.

     Reference is made to the Exhibit Index which appears on page S-6.

Item 9.  Undertakings.

     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

     (1) To file,  during any period in which  offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

          (i) To include  any  prospectus  required  by Section  10(a)(3) of the
     Securities Act of 1933;

          (ii) To reflect in the  prospectus  any facts or events  arising after
     the  effective  date of the  registration  statement  (or the  most  recent
     post-effective amendment thereof) which,  individually or in the aggregate,
     represents  a  fundamental  change  in the  information  set  forth  in the
     registration statement;

          (iii) To include any material  information with respect to the plan of
     distribution not previously disclosed in the registration  statement or any
     material  change  to  such  information  in  the  registration   statement;
     provided,  however,  that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the
     registration  statement  is on  Form  S-3 or Form  S-8 and the  information
     required to be included in a  post-effective  amendment by those paragraphs
     is contained in periodic reports

                                      S-2
filed by the  registrant  pursuant  to Section  13 or Section  15(d) of the
     Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 that are  incorporated by reference in the
     registration statement.

     (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933,  each  such  post-effective  amendment  shall be deemed to be a new
registration  statement  relating to the  securities  offered  therein,  and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

     (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective  amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.

     The  undersigned   registrant  hereby  undertakes  that,  for  purposes  of
determining  any liability  under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to Section  13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, and each filing of an employee  benefit plan's
annual report  pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934
that is incorporated by reference in the registration  statement shall be deemed
to be a new registration  statement  relating to the securities offered therein,
and the  offering  of such  securities  at that  time  shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers and controlling  persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,  the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities  and Exchange  Commission
such  indemnification  is against  public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore,  unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities  (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director,  officer or  controlling  person of the Registrant in the
successful  defense of any  action,  suit or  proceeding)  is  asserted  by such
director,  officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,  submit to a court of  appropriate
jurisdiction  the question whether such  indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed by the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.

                                      S-3
SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies  that it has  reasonable  grounds to believe  that it meets all of the
requirements  for  filing  on Form S-8 and has  duly  caused  this  Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized,  in the City of Zeeland, State of Michigan, on the 20th day of July,
2000.

                                      HERMAN MILLER, INC.

                                      By /s/ Michael A. Volkema
                                         Michael A. Volkema, President and Chief
                                         Executive Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,  that each person whose  signature  appears
below constitutes and appoints Michael A. Volkema and David L. Nelson,  and each
of them, his or her true and lawful  attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power
of substitution  and  resubstitution,  for him and in his or her name, place and
stead,  in any and all  capacities,  to sign any and all  amendments  (including
post-effective  amendments) to this Registration Statement and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and any other regulatory authority,  granting
unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform
each and every act and thing  required and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in
person,  hereby  ratifying and  confirming  all that said  attorney-in-fact  and
agent, or his or her  substitute,  may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

     Pursuant  to  the   requirements  of  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
Registration  Statement has been signed below on July 20, 2000, by the following
persons in the capacities indicated.

/s/ Michael A. Volkema                          /s/ Elizabeth A. Nickels
Michael A. Volkema, Director,                   Elizabeth A. Nickels,
President and Chief Executive                   Principal Financial Officer
Officer (Principal Executive Officer)           and Principal Accounting Officer

/s/ C. William Pollard                          /s/ David L. Nelson
C. William Pollard, Director                    David L. Nelson, Director and
                                                Chairman of the Board

/s/ Ruth A. Reister                             /s/ Dorothy A. Terrell
Ruth A. Reister, Director                       Dorothy A. Terrell, Director

____________________________________            /s/ Mary Vermeer Andringa
J. Harold Chandler, Director                    Mary Vermeer Andringa, Director

/s/ Brian Griffiths                             /s/ Thomas C. Pratt
Brian Griffiths, Lord Griffiths of              Thomas C. Pratt, Director
Fforestfach, Director

/s/ E. David Crockett                           /s/ Richard H. Ruch
E. David Crockett, Director                     Richard H. Ruch, Director

                                       S-4
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

     As independent public  accountants,  we hereby consent to the incorporation
by reference in this  Registration  Statement on Form S-8 for the Herman Miller,
Inc. 2000 Employee Stock Option Plan of our report dated June 25, 1999, included
in Herman  Miller,  Inc.'s Form 10-K for the year ended May 29, 1999, and to all
references to our Firm included in this Registration Statement.

                                             /s/ Arthur Andersen
                                             ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

Grand Rapids, Michigan
July 20, 2000

                                       S-5
EXHIBIT INDEX

     The following exhibits are filed as a part of the Registration Statement:

Item 4         Herman Miller, Inc. 2000 Employee Stock Option Plan

Item 5         Opinion of Varnum, Riddering,  Schmidt & Howlett LLP with respect
               to the legality of the securities being registered

Item 23.1      Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP - included on page S-5 hereof

Item 23.2      Consent of Varnum,  Riddering,  Schmidt & Howlett  LLP  (included
               with the opinion filed as Exhibit 5)

Item 24        Power of Attorney - included on page S-4 hereof

                                       S-6
HERMAN MILLER, INC.

                         2000 EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN

                                   EXHIBIT 4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                            Page

ARTICLE 1  ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE OF THE PLAN...............................1

   1.1   Establishment of the Plan.............................................1
   1.2   Purpose of the Plan...................................................1

ARTICLE 2 DEFINITIONS..........................................................1

ARTICLE 3 PARTICIPATION; ADMINISTRATION........................................2

   3.1   Participation.........................................................2
   3.2   Administration........................................................3

ARTICLE 4 TERMS OF OPTIONS.....................................................3

   4.1   Participant's Agreement...............................................3
   4.2   Shares Subject to Option..............................................3
   4.3   Option Price..........................................................3
   4.4   Option Term...........................................................3
   4.5   Exercisability........................................................3
   4.6   Method of Exercise....................................................3
   4.7   Nontransferability of Options.........................................3
   4.8   Termination of Employment for Reasons other than
         Retirement, Disability, or Death......................................4
   4.9   Termination of Employment for Retirement or Disability................4
   4.10  Termination of Employment for Death...................................4
   4.11  Termination of Options................................................4

ARTICLE 5 TERMINATION OR AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN.................................4

ARTICLE 6 UNFUNDED PLAN........................................................5

ARTICLE 7 ADJUSTMENT PROVISIONS................................................5

   7.1   Antidilution..........................................................5
   7.2   Change in Control.....................................................5
   7.3   Adjustments by Committee..............................................5

ARTICLE 8 GENERAL PROVISIONS...................................................5

   8.1   Legend................................................................5
   8.2   No Right to Employment................................................6
   8.3   Withholding of Taxes..................................................6
   8.4   No Assignment of Benefits.............................................6
   8.5   Governing Law.........................................................6

                                       -i-
8.6   Application of Funds..................................................6
   8.7   Rights as a Shareholder...............................................6

                                      -ii-
HERMAN MILLER, INC.
                         2000 EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN

                                    ARTICLE 1
                      ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

     1.1 Establishment of the Plan. Herman Miller,  Inc., a Michigan corporation
(the  "Company"),  hereby  establishes  a stock  option  plan to be known as the
"Herman  Miller,  Inc. 2000 Employee  Stock Option Plan" (the "Plan").  The Plan
permits the grant of nonqualified stock options to full- and part-time employees
of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  who are not eligible to participate in the
Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan ("Participant").  The Plan is effective as of
June 29, 2000 (the "Effective Date").

     1.2 Purpose of the Plan. The purpose of the Plan is to reward  Participants
for their  individual and collective  contributions  to the Company and, through
stock-based  awards,  incent  Participants  to  continue  to  contribute  to the
Company's long-term success.

                                    ARTICLE 2
                                   DEFINITIONS

     For purposes of this Plan, the following  terms have the meanings set forth
below:

     2.1 "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

     2.2 "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

     2.3 "Committee" shall mean the Executive Compensation Committee.

     2.4 "Common  Stock" shall mean the Common Stock,  $.20 par value per share,
of the Company.

     2.5  "Disability"  shall mean permanent and total  disability as determined
under the rules and guidelines  established by the Committee for purposes of the
Plan.

     2.6 "Fair  Market  Value"  shall be the mean between the highest and lowest
sales  prices  per  share of the  Common  Stock  for such  date on the  National
Association of Securities  Dealers  Automated  Quotation System or any successor
system then in use ("NASDAQ"). If no sale of shares of Common Stock is reflected
on the NASDAQ on a date,  "Fair Market  Value" shall be  determined  on the next
preceding  day on which there was a sale of shares of Common Stock  reflected on
NASDAQ.

     2.7 "Grant Date" shall mean July 5, 2000.

                                      -1-
2.8 "Option" shall mean an option to purchase  shares of Common Stock which
is not an incentive stock option under the terms and requirements of Section 422
of the Code.

     2.9 "Option  Price"  shall mean the price at which a share of Common  Stock
may be purchased by a Participant pursuant to an Option.

     2.10  "Participant"  shall mean an Employee of the Company or a  Subsidiary
who receives an Option under this Plan.

     2.11 "Retirement" shall mean the termination of a Participant's  employment
with the Company or a Subsidiary after the Participant attains normal retirement
age as established by the Committee.

     2.12 "Subsidiary"  shall mean any Domestic  Subsidiary or any International
Subsidiary.  "Domestic  Subsidiary"  shall mean any entity  incorporated  in the
United  States or  Canada in which the  Company  owns  directly,  or  indirectly
through  subsidiaries,  one hundred  percent (100%) of the total combined voting
power of all classes of stock,  or any other entity  organized or established in
the United States or Canada  (including,  but not limited to,  partnerships  and
joint  ventures) in which the Company owns  directly or  indirectly  one hundred
percent (100%) of the combined equity thereof.  "International Subsidiary" shall
mean any entity  not  incorporated  in the United  States or Canada in which the
Company  owns  directly  or  indirectly  through the  subsidiaries,  one hundred
percent  (100%) of the total combined  voting power of all classes of stock,  or
any other entity not  organized or  established  in the United  States or Canada
(including,  but not limited to,  partnerships  and joint ventures) in which the
Company owns one hundred percent (100%) of the combined equity thereof.

     2.13   "Termination  of  Employment"   shall  mean  the  termination  of  a
Participant's  employment  with  the  Company  or a  Subsidiary.  A  Participant
employed  by a  Subsidiary  shall  also be  deemed  to  incur a  Termination  of
Employment if the Subsidiary  ceases to be a Subsidiary and the Participant does
not  immediately  thereafter  become  an  employee  of the  Company  or  another
Subsidiary.

                                    ARTICLE 3
                          PARTICIPATION; ADMINISTRATION

     3.1  Participation.  Each  person who was  employed by the  Company,  or an
entity that is a Domestic  Subsidiary  as of the  Effective  Date, on a full- or
part-time  basis as of June 1, 1999,  and was not eligible to participate in the
Herman Miller,  Inc.  Long-Term  Incentive Plan as of the Effective Date,  shall
receive  an Option  under  the  terms of  Article 4 of this Plan as of the Grant
Date. The Committee designated under Section 3.2 below, shall have the authority
to grant options under this Plan to employees of International Subsidiaries.

                                      -2-
3.2  Administration.  The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.  The
Committee  has the  authority  to adopt,  alter and repeal  such  administrative
rules,  guidelines  and practices  governing the Plan as it shall,  from time to
time,  deem  advisable,  to interpret  the terms and  provisions  of the Plan. A
majority of the Committee  constitutes a quorum, and the acts of a majority of a
quorum at any  meeting,  or acts reduced to or approved in writing by a majority
of the members of the Committee,  shall be the valid acts of the Committee.  The
interpretation  and  construction by the Committee of any provisions of the Plan
or any  Option  granted  under  the Plan  shall be final  and  binding  upon the
Company, the Board and Participants, including their respective heirs, executors
and  assigns.  No member of the Board or the  Committee  shall be liable for any
action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan.

                                    ARTICLE 4
                                TERMS OF OPTIONS

     4.1 Participant's Agreement. Each Participant must remain in the continuous
employ of the Company for a period of at least twelve (12) months from the Grant
Date or until Retirement or Disability, if Retirement or Disability occurs prior
to twelve (12) months from the Grant Date.  This Agreement shall not impose upon
the Company or any Subsidiary  any  obligation to retain the  Participant in its
employ for any period.

     4.2 Shares Subject to Option.  Each Option shall entitle the Participant to
purchase one hundred (100) shares of the Company's Common Stock.

     4.3 Option  Price.  The Option Price per share of Common Stock  purchasable
under an Option shall be one hundred  percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of
the Common Stock at the Grant Date.

     4.4 Option Term.  The term of each Option shall be ten (10) years after the
Grant Date.

     4.5  Exercisability.  Except as provided in Sections 4.9 and 7.2 below,  no
Option  shall be  exercisable  in either in whole or in part  prior to the first
anniversary  of the Grant Date.  Thereafter,  an Option shall be  exercisable in
accordance with the terms of this Plan.

     4.6 Method of Exercise.  Options may be exercised only for the total number
of shares  covered by the Option,  by giving  written  notice of exercise to the
Company.  The notice  shall be  accompanied  by payment in full of the  purchase
price in cash only.  No shares of stock will be issued  until  payment  has been
made.

     4.7  Nontransferability  of  Options.  No Option may be sold,  transferred,
pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or
by the laws of descent  and  distribution.  All  Options  shall be  exercisable,
during the Participant's lifetime, only by the Participant.

                                      -3-
4.8   Termination  of  Employment   for  Reasons  other  than   Retirement,
Disability,  or Death.  Upon Termination of Employment for any reason other than
Retirement  or on  account  of  Disability  or death,  each  Option  held by the
Participant  shall,  to the extent  rights to purchase  shares under such Option
have accrued at the date of such  Termination of  Employment,  be exercisable at
any  time  within  a  period  of  three  (3)  months  following  Termination  of
Employment,  subject,  however,  to prior  expiration of the term of the Option.
Whether  an  authorized  leave of absence or  absence  because  of  military  or
governmental  service  shall  constitute  Termination  of  Employment  for  such
purposes  shall be determined by the  Committee,  which  determination  shall be
final and conclusive.

     4.9   Termination  of  Employment   for  Retirement  or  Disability.   Upon
Termination  of Employment by reason of  Retirement or  Disability,  each Option
held by such  Participant  shall be  exercisable  for a period of five (5) years
following  such  Termination  of  Employment,  subject,  however,  to the  prior
expiration  of the Option.  If the  Participant  dies after such  Retirement  or
Disability,  an Option  shall be  exercisable  in  accordance  with Section 4.10
below.

     4.10 Termination of Employment for Death. Upon Termination of Employment by
reason of death,  each  Option  held by such  Participant  shall,  to the extent
rights to purchase  shares under the Option has accrued at the date of death, be
exercisable by the personal representative of the Participant's estate or by any
person  or  persons  who  shall  have  acquired  the  Option  directly  from the
Participant by bequest or inheritance only under the following circumstances and
during the following periods:  (i) if the Participant dies while employed by the
Company or a Subsidiary,  at any time within five (5) years after his death,  or
(ii) if the  Participant  dies during the  extended  exercise  period  following
Termination  of  Employment  specified  in Section  4.9,  at any time within the
longer of such extended period or one (1) year after death, subject, however, in
any case, to the prior expiration of the term of the Option.

     4.11  Termination  of Options.  Any Option  which is not  exercised  within
whichever of the exercise  periods  specified in Sections  4.8,  4.9, or 4.10 is
applicable shall terminate upon expiration of such exercise period.

                                   ARTICLE 5
                      TERMINATION OR AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN

     The Board may at any time amend,  discontinue or terminate this Plan or any
part  thereof  (including  any  amendment  deemed  necessary  to ensure that the
Company  may  comply  with any  applicable  regulatory  requirement);  provided,
however,  that,  unless  otherwise  required by law, the rights of a Participant
with respect to an Option  granted prior to such  amendment,  discontinuance  or
termination, may not be impaired without the consent of the Participant.

                                      -4-
ARTICLE 6
                                  UNFUNDED PLAN

     This Plan is intended to constitute an "unfunded" plan. With respect to any
payment not yet made to a Participant by the Company,  nothing  contained herein
shall give any such  Participant  any rights  that are  greater  than those of a
general creditor of the Company.

                                    ARTICLE 7
                              ADJUSTMENT PROVISIONS

     7.1  Antidilution.  Subject  to the  provisions  of this  Article 7, if the
outstanding shares of Common Stock are increased,  decreased, or exchanged for a
different number or kind of shares or other securities,  or if additional shares
or new or different  shares or other  securities are distributed with respect to
such shares of Common Stock or other securities,  through merger, consolidation,
sale of all or substantially  all of the assets of the Company,  reorganization,
recapitalization,  reclassification,  stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock
split or other distribution with respect to such shares of Common Stock or other
securities,  an appropriate and proportionate  adjustment may be made in (i) the
number  and kind of shares  provided  in the Plan,  (ii) the  number and kind of
shares or other securities  subject to the then outstanding  Options,  and (iii)
the price for each  share or other unit of any other  securities  subject to the
then outstanding Options.

     7.2  Change  in  Control.   Notwithstanding   Sections  4.1  or  4.5,  upon
dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or upon a reorganization,  merger, or
consolidation of the Company with one or more  corporations as a result of which
the  Company  is not  the  surviving  corporation,  or upon  the  sale of all or
substantially all the assets of the Company,  all Options then outstanding under
the  Plan  will be  fully  vested  and  exercisable  and all  restrictions  will
immediately   cease,   unless  provisions  are  made  in  connection  with  such
transaction  for  the  continuance  of the  Plan  and the  assumption  of or the
substitution  for such Options of new Options  covering the stock of a successor
employer  corporation,  or a parent  or  subsidiary  thereof,  with  appropriate
adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices.

     7.3 Adjustments by Committee.  Any  adjustments  pursuant to this Article 7
will be made by the Committee,  whose  determination as to what adjustments will
be made and the  extent  thereof  will be final,  binding,  and  conclusive.  No
fractional  interest  will be  issued  under  the  Plan on  account  of any such
adjustments. Only cash payments will be made in lieu of fractional shares.

                                    ARTICLE 8
                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

     8.1 Legend.  The  Committee  may  require  each  person  purchasing  shares
pursuant to an Option  under the Plan to represent to and agree with the Company
in writing  that the  Participant  is  acquiring  the  shares  without a view to
distribution thereof. In addition to any legend required by this

                                      -5-
Plan,  the  certificates  for such  shares  may  include  any  legend  which the
Committee deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on transfer.

     All  certificates for shares of Common Stock delivered under the Plan shall
be subject to such stock transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee
may deem advisable under the rules,  regulations  and other  requirements of the
Securities and Exchange  Commission,  NASDAQ,  any stock exchange upon which the
Common Stock is then listed, any applicable Federal or state securities law, and
any applicable corporate law, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to
be  placed  on any  such  certificates  to make  appropriate  reference  to such
restrictions.

     8.2 No Right to  Employment.  Neither this Plan nor the grant of any Option
hereunder shall give any Participant or other employee any right with respect to
continuance of employment by the Company or any Subsidiary, nor shall there be a
limitation in any way on the right of the Company or any  Subsidiary by which an
employee is employed to terminate his or her employment at any time.

     8.3 Withholding of Taxes. The Company shall require,  prior to the issuance
or delivery of any shares of Common Stock or the payment of any cash  hereunder,
payment by the Participant of, any Federal, state or local taxes required by law
to be withheld.

     8.4 No Assignment  of Benefits.  No benefits of any Option shall be subject
in  any  manner  to  anticipation,   alienation,   attachment,  sale,  transfer,
assignment,  pledge,  encumbrance  or charge,  and any  attempt  to  anticipate,
alienate,  attach, sell, transfer,  assign, pledge, encumber or charge, any such
benefits  shall be void,  and any such benefit shall not in any manner be liable
for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements or torts of any
person  who  shall be  entitled  to such  benefit,  nor shall it be  subject  to
attachment or legal process for or against such person.

     8.5 Governing Law. This Plan and actions taken in connection herewith shall
be governed and construed in  accordance  with the laws and in the courts of the
state of Michigan.

     8.6  Application  of Funds.  The proceeds  received by the Company from the
sale of shares of Common Stock pursuant to Options  granted under this Plan will
be used for general corporate purposes.

     8.7 Rights as a Shareholder.  Except as otherwise  provided in an Option, a
Participant shall have no rights as a shareholder of the Company until he or she
becomes the holder of record of Common Stock.

::ODMA\PCDOCS\GRR\439604\2

                                      -6-
July 20, 2000

Herman Miller, Inc.
855 East Main Avenue
Zeeland, Michigan 49464-0302

    Re:   Registration Statement on Form S-8 Relating to the Herman Miller, Inc.
          2000 Employee Stock Option Plan

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     With respect to the Registration  Statement on Form S-8 (the  "Registration
Statement") filed by Herman Miller, Inc., a Michigan corporation (the "Company")
with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission,  for the purpose of  registering
under the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  800,000 shares of the Company's
common stock,  par value $.20 per share,  for issuance  pursuant to the Plan, we
have  examined   documents  and  questions  of  law  we  consider  necessary  or
appropriate  for the  purpose  of  giving  this  opinion.  On the  basis of such
evaluation,  we advise you that in our opinion the 800,000 shares covered by the
Registration  Statement,  upon the  exercise  of stock  options,  at the  prices
described in the Registration Statement but not less than the par value thereof,
and upon  delivery of such shares and payment  therefor in  accordance  with the
terms  stated  in the  Plan  and the  Registration  Statement,  will be duly and
legally  authorized,  issued  and  outstanding,  and  will  be  fully  paid  and
nonassessable.

     We hereby  consent  to the  filing of this  opinion  as an  exhibit  to the
Registration  Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we
are within the category of persons whose consent is required  under Section 7 of
the  Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  or under the rules and  regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission relating thereto.

                                Very truly yours,

                    VARNUM, RIDDERING, SCHMIDT & HOWLETT LLP

                                       /s/

                              Michael G. Wooldridge

                                    EXHIBIT 5

::ODMA\PCDOCS\GRR\442353\1
                                       S-7