Minnesota Earned Sick & Safe Time Resources Released
In May of 2023, the State of Minnesota enacted a new paid time off law focused on earned sick and safe time. The effective date of Minnesota’s Earned Sick & Safe Time law (ESST) is January 1, 2024, and to support that implementation the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) has released supporting materials to aid employers as they comply with the law.
Employee Notice
Employers are required to provide all employees with a notice of their rights under ESST. The notice must be provided to employees by January 1, 2024, or by the start of the employee’s employment, whichever is later.
The Minnesota DLI has provided a sample employee notice, which is available here in several different languages. The notice must be provided in English and the employee’s primary language. DLI will translate the notice into other languages as necessary. Employers are not required to use the sample notice and can create their own notice if all required information is included. Information regarding what must be included in the notice can be found in the frequently asked questions that are linked below. Employers with employee handbooks must also include the notice in their handbook.
The DLI has released a workplace poster with information regarding earned sick and safe time. The poster is for informational purposes only. Employers are not required to display the poster, but are encouraged to do so.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Minnesota DLI has also posted frequently asked questions regarding ESST. These FAQs provide a basic overview of the law and give some more insight into how ESST operates. Organizations would be well served to review these FAQs for better understanding on how to comply with ESST requirements.
Key Takeaways:
Employers should carefully review the terms of Minnesota’s Earned Sick and Safe Time law to understand their obligations under the law. Employers subject to the law should ensure they have a plan to be compliant with the new requirements when the law is effective on January 1, 2024.