Last week, significant changes to Minnesota’s sick or injured childcare leave law took effect, expanding the protections for employees who need to care for sick or injured family members.
Under the previous version of the law, workers could use their own personal sick leave to care for sick or injured children. Now, the law also permits workers to use their sick time to care for other family members, such as an adult child, spouse, sibling, parent, grandparent or stepparent.
It is important to note that the same terms that apply to the employee’s use of their own sick time, apply when they are caring for a family member. An employer may also limit the use of personal sick leave to care for a family member other than a child, to “no less than 160 hours in any 12-month period”.
For many businesses, this change to Minn. Stat. §181.9413 will make it necessary to update their sick leave policies in employment contracts and employment handbooks.
To discuss how this new law will affect your company, contact a Minneapolis employment law attorney with LeBlanc Law & Mediation at 612-819-9652.
