With Election Day approaching, here is a timely reminder for employers in Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota regarding their obligations under these states’ laws to excuse employees from work to go to the polls. With many voters opting to vote early or by mail, the number of voters
Articles About Minnesota Labor and Employment Law.
Employers With 30 or More Employees in Minnesota Required to Provide Salary Ranges in Job Postings, Beginning in 2025
Effective January 1, 2025, employers with thirty or more workers in Minnesota will be required to provide salary ranges and a general description of benefits in job postings—a requirement that appears to apply to recruiting and staffing companies in Minnesota seeking candidates to work for employers in other states.
New Minnesota Law Voids Restrictive Employment Covenants in Service Contracts, Except for Computer Professionals
Minnesota’s legislature rushed through several bills this year affecting recruiting and staffing associations and other service providers such as property management companies. One such law may, as one member of the Minnesota House of Representatives noted, have “profound” consequences for service providers regarding contractual conversion fees. As the law is
Minnesota Passes a Comprehensive Consumer Data Privacy Law
On May 24, 2024, Minnesota’s governor signed an omnibus bill, HF4757 which included the new Consumer Data Privacy Act. The state joins Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Rhode Island in passing consumer data privacy laws this year.
Minnesota’s law takes effect July 31, 2025, except that postsecondary
Minnesota Adopts New Rules for Parental Leave, Tips, and Recordkeeping Starting August 1, 2024
New laws in Minnesota will change how employers need to handle parental leave, tips, and recordkeeping. Most of the changes were part of the state’s omnibus bill for 2024 and are set to take effect on August 1, 2024.
Minnesota Now Recognizes Claims for Negligent Selection of Independent Contractors
Companies in Minnesota that work with independent contractors should be aware of a new legal risk. In Alonzo v. Menholt,1 the Minnesota Supreme Court recognized a claim for the negligent selection of an independent contractor. Companies operating in Minnesota might be held responsible for inadequately screening their independent contractors or their
Minnesota Ban on Staffing Agency Nonsolicitation Provisions to Take Effect July 1, 2024
A new Minnesota law taking effect on July 1, 2024, will ban the use of nonsolicitation agreements by staffing agencies and other service providers to prevent their customers, orthe companies that contract for the staffing agency’s services, from soliciting or hiring the staffing agency’s employees who provide the contracted temporary
Minnesota Employment Legislative Update 2024, Part IV: The Aftermath of Minnesota’s Legislative Circus
May 20, 2024, marked the end of the legislative session for yet another historic and busy year for Minnesota’s legislature. Amidst endless shouting, a sprawling 1,400-plus-page omnibus bill, and ethical complaints, the aftermath of the legislative session’s chaotic end left Minnesotans in a frenzy, deciphering which specific bills passed.
More Changes to Minnesota’s Employment Laws are Imminent
Minnesota enacted an omnibus bill that includes a host of new labor and employment law changes. Provisions of the bill address pay transparency, earned sick and safe time and paid family leave, independent contractor classification, pregnancy leave rights, drug testing, non-solicitation agreements, minimum wage and tip laws, among others.
Minnesota’s Paid Leave Law: New Guidance, Higher Payroll Taxes, Amendments
Under Minnesota’s Paid Leave Law (PLL) that goes into effect in January 2026, employers must provide covered employees up to 20 weeks of leave to care for themselves and their family members with paid leave benefits available through the Minnesota Paid Leave Program.
Minnesota Amends its Earned Sick and Safe Time Act and Paid Family Leave Law
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed bills amending the Earned Sick and Safe Time Act and the Paid Family Leave Law. Many of amendments provide new and expanded definitions of terms. Other amendments create new penalties and appeals procedures. Rates of pay and premium rates are also addressed.
Minnesota’s Latest Legislative Session Update
Minnesota’s legislature was busy providing new rules and obligations for employers. In addition to the changes in the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA), Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST), Paid Family and Medical Leave, and pay transparency laws (which we discuss in separate articles), there were more amendments and additions employers should be aware of.
Top Changes to Minnesota’s Earned Sick and Safe Time Statute
Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz signed legislation amending the state’s Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) law, on May 24, 2024, nearly six months after the statute took effect. Although all of the amendments are important, the top changes are outlined here.
Minnesota Will Allow Oral Fluid Testing For Drugs, Cannabis and Alcohol
Minnesota will amend its drug testing law to permit oral fluid testing for drugs, cannabis and alcohol, effective August 1, 2024.
The Drug and Alcohol Testing in the Workplace Act (“DATWA”) currently requires employers who conduct drug and alcohol testing to use specific certified laboratories and to permit confirmatory re-testing
Minnesota’s Human Rights Act Amended
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed a bill significantly amending the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) on May 15, 2024. The MHRA, otherwise known as Minnesota’s anti-discrimination statute, already prohibited discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, marital status, disability, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, familial status, and age.