This year, the legislature passed and the governor signed legislation that updates and expands the state’s Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) law. This leave can be used for things like the following:
Those considered family members for purposes of the law include children, spouses or partners, parents, grandparents, siblings and in-laws.
A few Minnesota cities, including Minneapolis and St. Paul already have an ESST law in place. When the new state law takes effect, employers in those cities “must follow the ESST requirements most favorable to their employees.”
It’s important for all Minnesota employees to know their rights under the new law. Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee that every employer will know about or fully understand it. That’s more likely to be the case if you work for a small business where there’s no human resources department. Of course, it’s also important to know that you have the right to take unpaid leave if you need it under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
If you believe that your employer has wrongfully denied you time off to which you’re entitled or has retaliated against you for taking needed time off and you haven’t been able to resolve the issue with them, it’s a good idea to get legal guidance to better understand and protect your rights
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