In response to a significant increase in COVID-19 cases, effective January 6, 2022, at 5:00 p.m., the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, will require all individuals to wear facemasks indoors.
Articles About Minnesota Labor and Employment Law.
Analyzing and Responding to the Minnesota Attorney General’s Investigations into Employer Pay Practices
The Minnesota Supreme Court recently reaffirmed the Minnesota attorney general’s broad power to investigate Wage Theft Act and alleged pay practice violations.
Minnesota OSHA Adopts Federal OSHA’s COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard
On January 3, 2022, Minnesota’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MNOSHA) adopted the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) published on November 5, 2021.
Minnesota Starts the New Year with New Rules: Lactation Breaks and Pregnancy Accommodations Law Takes Effect
As companies returned to work following the holidays, changes to Minnesota’s nursing mothers statute and pregnancy accommodations law (Minn. Stat. § 181.939) went into effect on January 1, 2022. Minnesota employers may want to take a moment to make sure their policies and practices are up to date.
A Blizzard of Activity from Minnesota OSHA in the New Year
While the working world stepped into the new year, and as federal OSHA awaited a January 7, 2022 oral argument before the United States Supreme Court regarding its COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Standard (ETS), on January 3, 2022, Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA) adopted the ETS by reference in the
Minneapolis and St. Paul Issue Mask Mandates Due to Spike in COVID-19 Cases
On Wednesday, January 5, 2022, Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis and Mayor Melvin Carter of St. Paul, Minnesota, issued indoor mask mandates for their cities due to the rapid spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, which currently accounts for approximately 68 percent of cases in Minnesota (and rising).
Minnesota Supreme Court Confirms Legality of ‘Rent Credits’ for Live-In Caretakers
On August 11, 2021, the Minnesota Supreme Court issued a decision of significance to any owner or manager of residential properties in Minnesota that employs live-in caretakers or property managers. The court confirmed that such businesses and their live-in employees may enter into agreements that include the payment of rent
Duluth, Minnesota Adds Permitted Uses, Notice, Enforcement to Sick and Safe Time Ordinance
Employers covered by the Duluth, Minnesota Sick and Safe Time ordinance will need to revisit relevant policies in light of amendments that will become effective August 19, 2021.
Duluth, Minnesota Amends Paid Sick and Safe Leave Ordinance
The mayor of Duluth, Minnesota recently signed File # 21-023-O, which, effective August 19, 2021, broadens covered uses of leave under the Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) Ordinance, and amends employer notice and enforcement provisions. When the amendments take effect:
Minnesota Legislature Amends Lactation Breaks and Pregnancy Accommodation Provisions
As part of the Omnibus Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy Bill, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has approved an amendment relating to pregnancy accommodations and barring reducing compensation for lactation breaks, among other changes. The amendment goes into effect on January 1, 2022.
Under Minnesota law, employers must provide
Minneapolis Enacts ‘Hospitality Worker Right to Recall’ Ordinance, Effective May 1, 2021
Hospitality and event center workers received additional job rights protection under a new ordinance passed by the Minneapolis City Council. The new ordinance requires employers to recall those workers, if and when they are needed in reverse order of seniority. Ordinance No.2021-12, entitled “Hospitality Worker Right to Recall,” seeks to
Minnesota Governor Walz Gradually Eases COVID-19 Business Restrictions
On March 12, 2021, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz dialed back Minnesota’s COVID-19–related restrictions by issuing Emergency Executive Order (EO) 21-11, “Adjusting Limitations on Certain Activities and Taking Steps Forward.” Most provisions of the executive order went into effect on March 15, 2021, and relate to activities outside of the home,
Minnesota Eases COVID-19 Restrictions, Recommends Continued Work-From-Home
Nearly one year after Minnesota Governor Tim Walz first issued an executive order addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, he has issued new Emergency Executive Order 21-11 (Adjusting Limitations on Certain Activities and Taking Steps Forward), easing restrictions on social gatherings and occupancy limitations for certain industries.
Minnesota Employer’s Handbook Disclaimer Fails on PTO Policy Under Wage Payment Statute
Minnesota employers will be heading back to the drawing board to revise their handbook disclaimers. The Minnesota Supreme Court now requires specific language in policies that set out the terms and conditions for payment of certain employee benefits such as payouts of vacation and paid time off (PTO).
Minnesota Supreme Court Holds General Contract Disclaimer in Employee Handbook May Not Prevent Creating Contractual Obligations to Pay Out PTO
Fourteen years ago, in Lee v. Fresenius Med. Care, 741 N.W.2d 117 (Minn. 2007), the Minnesota Supreme Court held that an employer’s obligation to pay out unused paid time off (PTO) to an employee at termination depends on what the employer’s PTO policy dictates. The holding was consistent with Minnesota law as it did not require employers to offer any PTO to employees. The issue of whether PTO is owed at time of termination is a question of contract, and employers can set the terms with a carefully drafted policy.