Preparing for Sick and Safe Time LawBeginning January 1, the new Earned Sick and Safe Time law passed along party lines last year will go into effect. This will affect basically every worker and employer in the state, so I would encourage everyone to familiarize themselves with the information at the Department of Labor and Industry’s website at dli.mn.gov/sick-leave. This new mandate will put even more of a burden on small business owners than ever, especially while we're still dealing with out-of-control inflation. With the difficulties of hiring enough employees right now, most businesses are already offering all the benefits they can afford to attract and keep quality employees. The new sick and safe time law requires all employers in Minnesota to offer 1 hour of sick and safe time for every 30 hours worked, with accrual of up to 48 hours per year for all full-time, part-time, and even seasonal employees. The level of record-keeping required to comply with this law will cost far more in human resource and compliance costs, especially for small businesses, schools, and healthcare facilities that will need to invest in more staff to handle even more complex payroll systems. Unfortunately, this new law will likely kill jobs across the state. With businesses facing an additional 48 to 80 hours of cost added to every employee, this will reduce margins and make it harder for businesses to survive. House Republicans offered amendments to protect those with 50 or fewer employees, but Democrats insisted on imposing this mandate on every business with just one employee or more. This is another one-size-fits-all policy that lacks any insight into small businesses or Greater Minnesota. A complete list of mandates and reporting requirements is available at the Department of Labor and Industry website. I would encourage every job creator to look through the complete list to be sure they are ready for this law to take effect. |