Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz signed legislation amending the state’s Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) law, on May 24, 2024, nearly six months after the statute took effect. Although all of the amendments are important, the top changes are ranked below.
Minnesota’s Latest Legislative Session Update
Minnesota’s legislature was busy providing new rules and obligations for employers. In addition to the changes in the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA), Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST), Paid Family and Medical Leave, and pay transparency laws (which we discuss in separate articles), there were more amendments and additions employers should be aware of.
Minnesota’s Human Rights Act Amended
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed a bill significantly amending the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) on May 15, 2024. The MHRA, otherwise known as Minnesota’s anti-discrimination statute, already prohibited discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, marital status, disability, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, familial status, and age.
Duluth, Minnesota Repeals Its Paid Leave Ordinance; Other City Ordinances Remain
Leave laws, regulations, and ordinances continue to change in Minnesota. The city of Duluth, Minnesota, repealed its Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) ordinance effective Jan. 17, 2024.
St. Paul Issues New Guidance For Employers Complying with the City’s Earned Sick and Safe Time Ordinance
Continuing the wave of new rules and regulations related to paid leave in Minnesota, on Jan. 8, 2024, the St. Paul Department of Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity (HREEO) issued guidance on its interpretation of St. Paul’s Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) Ordinance. St. Paul revised its ESST Ordinance in October 2023 to align with Minnesota’s ESST law, which went into effect Jan. 1, 2024
Guidance Interpreting Minnesota’s New Earned Sick and Safe Time Law
Minnesota’s statewide paid sick and safe leave mandate, the Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) law, went into effect Jan. 1, 2024. The Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) has posted answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ Guide) that it revised on Dec. 4, 2023.
Saint Paul Changes Earned Sick and Safe Time Ordinance as Second City to Align With Minnesota’s Leave Law
Employers in Minnesota are not the only ones gearing up for Minnesota’s earned sick and safe time (ESST) law to take effect on Jan. 1, 2024. Cities in Minnesota are also making changes to their respective earned sick and safe time ordinances.
Minnesota Publishes Sample Earned Sick and Safe Time Employee Notice
When the Minnesota ESST mandate takes effect at the start of 2024, covered employers will be required to provide eligible Minnesota employees with at least one hour of paid ESST for every 30 hours worked, up to a maximum of 48 hours per year and an overall balance of 80 hours.
Bloomington Amends Sick and Safe Time Ordinance to Align With Minnesota’s Sick and Safe Time Law
The City Council for the City of Bloomington, Minnesota, has adopted amendments to its Sick and Safe Time Ordinance (previously called the Sick and Safe Leave Time Ordinance). The amendments, Ordinance No. 2023-24 § 23.05, will go in effect on Jan. 1, 2024.
Minnesota Legislature Passes Significant Employee Leave Laws
Minnesota is now the 12th state to adopt a statewide program providing compensation to employees during family and medical leaves. It also joined the over 40 state and local jurisdictions mandating employer paid sick leave.
Minnesota Legislature Passes Statewide Paid Sick and Safe Time Bill
With the state legislature’s passage of the ESST mandate, Minnesota is poised to join 18 other states, plus Washington, D.C., as jurisdictions that have enacted a statewide paid sick leave or general paid time off mandate.
Bloomington and St. Paul’s Sick and Safe Time Ordinances Get Updates
Responding to increased attention to worker protections promoting public health and safety, both Bloomington’s and St. Paul’s City Councils recently unanimously approved amendments to their Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) Ordinances.
Bloomington Becomes the Fourth City in Minnesota to Require Paid Sick and Safe Leave
The City of Bloomington, Minnesota is the latest city in Minnesota to join the cities of Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth in enacting an Earned Sick and Safe Leave ordinance (ORDINANCE NO. 2022-31).
Duluth, Minnesota Updates Sick and Safe Time Ordinance
Employers covered by the Duluth, Minnesota Sick and Safe Time ordinance will need to revisit relevant policies in light of amendments that will become effective Aug. 19, 2021.
Minnesota Legislature Amends Lactation Breaks and Pregnancy Accommodation Provisions
As part of the Omnibus Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy Bill, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has approved an amendment relating to pregnancy accommodations and barring reducing compensation for lactation breaks, among other changes.
Minnesota Supreme Court Rejects Challenges to Minneapolis Sick and Safe Ordinance
The Minnesota Supreme Court (5-2) has upheld the Minneapolis Sick and Safe Time Ordinance, ruling state law does not preempt the Ordinance, and it can apply to employers who are located outside of the City.
Paid Sick Leave Quarterly: 2nd Quarter 2019
The vast and complex patchwork of PSL laws expanded in the 2nd quarter of 2019. The most notable development was the addition of two laws with PSL architecture but which allow paid leave to be used for any reason, not merely for sick leave.
Amended Minneapolis Sick and Safe Leave Law Upheld on Appeal
The Minneapolis Sick and Safe Time Ordinance can be enforced against businesses not physically located in the city but who have employees who work at least eight (80) hours in a year within the geographic boundaries of the city, according to a state appellate court decision last week.