Minnesota Women’s Economic Security Act Becomes Law

This week, Minnesota passed the Women’s Economic Security Act (WESA), a nine-part law intended to break down barriers for women in the workplace. Of direct interest to employers, the law protects employees’ discussion about wages, requires certain state government contractors to certify their compliance with pay equity laws, provides unemployment benefits for victims of sexual assault, domestic abuse, or stalking, offers time-off rights for relatives and “safety” leave, enhances rights and protections for pregnant and nursing mothers, expands new parent leave, and provides discrimination protections for familial status.