In Minnesota, state law does not require leave for workers, paid or unpaid. There is also no federal law providing for sick and safe leave. As of April 2020, eleven states, the District of Columbia, and at least 30 cities across the nation—including Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and Duluth—have implemented these policies. Minnesota needs to do the same to build a more family-friendly state.
Earned Sick and Safe Time (“ESST”) ensures that working people have paid time for themselves or a loved one. Under this bill, workers could accrue up to 48 hours per year of paid sick time and safe time paid by their employer. The time can be used to care for the worker or a loved one if they’re sick, when a worker needs to pick their child up from school, go to the doctor, care for their child if there’s a school closure, and get care and assistance after domestic assault, stalking, or sexual assault.
No matter where we live, Minnesotans are united by the aspirations we share and the love we have for our families. Current employment standards do not reflect the reality hardworking Minnesota families encounter daily. Workers get sick and their family members get sick. Caring for yourself and family members is essential to living a good life and being able to work with dignity. ESST is good for working people and our communities. It upholds the dignity of Minnesota workers, and protects people from losing their jobs or facing workplace discipline when they need time to care.
Workers without earned sick and safe time have an impossible choice: either go to work when they or a loved one need care, or stay home, lose pay, and risk job loss or workplace discipline. ESST makes paid time to care equitable so that everyone, whether we’re white, Black, or brown—can care for ourselves and our loved ones. And it ensures hardworking people have the flexibility they need to meet their most important responsibilities without missing a paycheck or getting fired.
We’re stronger together – join us! Call on your legislators to listen to the will of the people and pass #PaidSickDays:
- Raise your voice – tweet at and tag your representatives on social media with hashtags #MNLeg, #PaidSickDays, #CareEconomy, and #WeCare4Us.
- Email your legislator now – Ask them to support earned sick and safe time for all Minnesota workers.
