Purpose of the Bill

This bill aims to update and modify the existing laws related to earned sick and safe time for employees in Minnesota. It seeks to provide clearer guidelines for how sick and safe time should be accrued, used, and regulated, offering more flexibility and ensuring equitable treatment across different employment situations.

Main Provisions

• Definition of Employer: The term "employer" is clarified to include various entities like corporations, partnerships, nonprofits, and governmental subdivisions, with exceptions for the United States government.

• Accrual of Sick and Safe Time:

  • Employees accrue one hour of sick and safe time for every 30 hours worked, capped at 48 hours per year, unless the employer opts for more.
  • Employees can carry over unused sick and safe time into the following year, up to a limit of 80 hours unless an employer agrees to more. Alternatively, employers can provide a lump sum of sick time at the start of the year.

• Use and Notice:

  • Employers may require advance notice when the need for sick time is foreseeable, but no more than seven days, and reasonable notice when unforeseeable.
  • Reasonable documentation can be required for use over three consecutive days and must be in the form of a health provider statement or an employee statement if needed.

• Employee Protections:

  • Employers cannot require employees to find a replacement worker when taking accrued sick time.
  • Disclosure of details related to domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, or medical conditions related to sick time, is prohibited.

• More Generous Policies: Employers who offer more generous sick time policies can continue to do so, provided they meet minimum legal standards.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Adjusts the cap on accrued sick time from a yearly maximum to allowing more flexibility with potential carryover and lump sum options.
• Provisions are added for newly established businesses, exempting them from sick time requirements in their first year of operation.
• Increased clarity on employee rights in terms of sick time notice, use, and protection from disclosing sensitive personal details.
• Permits collective bargaining agreements to waive certain requirements, provided they are explicit and unambiguous in their intent.

Relevant Terms

earned sick and safe time, employer definition, accrual, carryover, documentation, new business exemption, collective bargaining agreement, employee rights, privacy protection, advance notice, replacement worker, domestic abuse, sexual assault, stalking, health care professional, paid time off, federal law compliance