Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

House committee debates proposed changes to earned sick and safe time law

Labor and Industry Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach testifies March 12 before the House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee against HF1325. Sponsored by Rep. Isaac Schultz, the bill would modify the state’s earned sick and safe time law. (Photo by Michele Jokinen)
Labor and Industry Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach testifies March 12 before the House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee against HF1325. Sponsored by Rep. Isaac Schultz, the bill would modify the state’s earned sick and safe time law. (Photo by Michele Jokinen)

Earned safe and sick time allows workers to earn one hour of paid time off for every 30 hours worked, up to 48 hours per year. Time away can be used for certain reasons, including illness, to care for a sick family member, or to seek assistance if an employee or their family member has experienced domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking.

Rep. Isaac Schultz (R-Elmdale Township) believes Minnesota’s law, enacted in 2023, is unworkable for too many employers, results in higher property taxes and overburdens small businesses who could choose to locate elsewhere.

Seeking to make the program more flexible, Schultz sponsors HF1325 that he says would make commonsense changes to the program and benefit Minnesota for years to come. It was laid over as amended by the House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee Wednesday.

Among the changes are those that would:

  • exempt those covered to exclude workers under age 18, part-timers who work fewer than 25 hours per week, 20 weeks per year, or 520 hours per year;
  • exempt those working per diem or who opt into a job, such as a substitute teacher;  
  • compensate employees of organizations of 25 or fewer employees at half their normal rate while they are out, and businesses would not be required to pay sick and safe time during their first year of operation; 
  • offer a narrower definition of family, excluding adult children, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and in-laws; and
  • accrue earned sick and safe time at one hour for every 40 hours worked.

Labor and Industry Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach expressed many concerns about the proposal, saying it would eliminate protections for about 800,000 workers. It would also make it challenging for workers to know their rights because the number of employees in a business can surge and fall.

Other opponents noted that many part-time workers have multiple jobs and could be ineligible for benefits despite working 50 or more hours per week.

Workforce committee debates HF1325 to change MN's earned sick, safe time law 3/12/25

Brian Elliott, executive director of the Service Employees International Union’s Minnesota State Council, said the proposed legislation would undermine the most important principle of earned sick and safe time: “No one should be fired, or risk being unable to feed themselves or their family because of a short-term illness. That’s what we’re talking about — six days a year.”

Rep. Dave Pinto (DFL-St. Paul) said he will have conversations about the law to ensure it most effectively supports that principle. “But to the extent that we're backing off and treating human beings differently based on who they are or who they work for that is a real problem for me,” he said.


Related Articles


Priority Dailies

Legislature — with budget incomplete — gavels out, prepares for special session
House Speaker Lisa Demuth and Republican Floor Leader Harry Niska speak with the media following the May 19 end of the regular legislative session. (Photo by Michele Jokinen) Some years, state legislative sessions surge to a climax on their final day, a flurry of activity providing a sustained adrenaline rush, culminating in smiles of satisfaction as...
Walz, lawmakers strike budget deal in session's final days
Gov. Tim Walz and three of four legislative leaders announce a bipartisan agreement on biennial budget targets during a May 15 press conference. (Photo by Andrew VonBank) With five days to go in the 2025 session, three of four legislative leaders announced a budget agreement Thursday that would sunset unemployment insurance for hourly school empl...