Employment Law Updates from the Minnesota Legislative Session
Below are some of the major developments affecting Minnesota employers.
Earned Sick and Safe Time Effective January 1, 2024
Beginning January 1, 2024, all employers must provide paid sick and safe leave to employees who work at least 80 hours in Minnesota in a single year, including part-time and temporary employees. Passed as part of an omnibus jobs and economic development spending bill, the statewide earned sick and safe leave law is similar to existing ordinances in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and other Minnesota cities. Employees can accrue at least one hour of earned sick and safe time for every 30 hours worked, for a maximum of 48 hours accrued per year (unless the employer agrees to a higher amount). Accrual commences on the first day of employment, and employees may use the leave as it accrues. Employees will also be entitled to carry over unused sick and safe time into the following year for up to a maximum of 80 hours total accrued (unless the employer agrees to a higher amount). Alternatively, an employer can frontload leave at the beginning of the year or pay out accrued leave at the end of the year, with limited conditions. Employers are not required to pay out an employee’s unused sick and safe leave upon separation from employment. However, an employee is entitled to reinstatement of previously accrued unused sick and safe leave upon rehire within 180 days of separation by the same employer.
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