[co-author: Kaylyn Stanek]
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. The ESST Ordinances obligate an employer to pay their employees when they take time off for reasons related to the employee’s or the employee’s family member’s health and safety needs. St. Paul’s amendments took effect on February 18, 2023. Bloomington’s entire ordinance, including these amendments, will take effect for the first time on July 1, 2023.
Important Changes to Bloomington’s Earned Sick and Safe Time Ordinance
Bloomington’s Ordinance previously specified employees earn one hour of ESST for every thirty hours worked. Though this hour-unit did not change, the amendments added language granting employers discretion to permit accrual of ESST in fractions of an hour instead of block hour-units. Out of the four Minnesota cities with ESST ordinances, Duluth is the only other city to also give employers discretion to permit employees to accrue ESST in fractions of hours. Unlike Duluth, however, Bloomington does not clarify whether employers must allow employees to use ESST in fractions of an hour.
Under the amended ordinance, covered employers will be required to provide employees with available and used ESST hours on each pay stub. The required statement is here. In contrast, Duluth, Minneapolis, and St. Paul...
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