Rep. Luke Frederick: Minn. House approves Earned Sick & Safe Time for all Minnesota workers

 The Minnesota House approved legislation to expand Earned Sick and Safe Time benefits to all Minnesota workers. The legislation would ensure, at a minimum, one hour of paid Earned Sick and Safe Time for every 30 hours worked, up to at least 48 hours per year.

Over 900,000 Minnesota workers – a third of the state’s workforce – lack access to any paid time off when they or a family member are ill or need to see a doctor. Under the bill, Earned Sick and Safe Time could be used for the following purposes:

• To attend to the worker’s physical and mental health needs, including illness, injury or doctor’s appointment
• To attend to the physical and mental health needs of a family member (including illness, injury or appointment)
• Absence due to domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking of the worker or a family member
• If the worker’s job site is closed because of weather or a public emergency, or if a family member’s school is closed
• If the health authorities have determined that the worker or his/her family needs to stay at home because they could jeopardize the health of others (like a pandemic)

Rep. Luke Frederick of Mankato voted in support of the bill