Posted March 16th, 2016 in Top Stories

New Paid Sick Leave Ordinance Proposed

The City of Minneapolis is the latest in a long line of municipal and state governments to propose a paid sick leave ordinance. Paid sick leave is not a new issue in Minneapolis, as the City Council entertained another proposal in 2015. That proposal, which also contained onerous predictive scheduling and pay requirements, was ultimately withdrawn after meeting significant opposition from the business community. The new proposal affects all Minneapolis companies with at least 4 employees as well as non-Minneapolis employers whose employees work at least 80 hours in the city during the calendar year. The proposal will require employers to: allow employees to accrue paid sick leave at the rate of one hour per 30 hours worked, up to 48 hours per year; and carry over up to 80 hours of unused sick time from one year to the next. “It’s important that all Minneapolis employers and employers whose employees work in Minneapolis are aware of this proposal and the elements included to ensure they put into place the correct paid sick leave policy if passed,” said Nilan Johnson Lewis attorney Lisa Schmid, who counsels employers on labor and employment matters, including leave laws. If Minneapolis adopts the new ordinance, it will join more than 20 U.S. cities in five different states. The ordinance’s proposed effective date is unknown as of yet, though the proposal recommends that employers with 24 or fewer employees should be given an additional six months to comply.

To speak with Lisa Schmid about the new proposed ordinance, contact her via email or call 612.305.7549. For media inquiries, contact Aaron Berstler at 651.789.1264 or aaron@kohnstamm.com.