Minnesota – Bloomington Updates Rules and Releases Notice for Sick Leave

On March 31, 2023, the City of Bloomington updated its initial rules and released an employee notice of rights for the city’s Earned Sick and Safe Leave Ordinance, effective July 1, 2023. The updated rules:

• Provide new and expanded definitions, including a robust definition of adverse action for retaliation purposes.
• Change the eligibility for covered employees from working “at least 80 hours” in Bloomington to “more than 80 hours.”
• Clarify accrual rates and how to track the hours of employees who are working inside and outside of Bloomington.
• Change the waiting period for use from “90 calendar days following the beginning of employment” to the “91st day of employment.”
• Allow employees to use any amount of leave they want even if their leave balance is less than the designated minimum increment (four hours) established in the ordinance.
• Provide more guidance about notice and reasonable documentation requirements.

 

More information is available on the city’s website.

 

Action Items

Ensure that your policies have been updated accordingly.

 

Minnesota Discrimination Based on Hairstyle Prohibited

Effective August 1, 2023, the Minnesota Human Rights Act’s protections against race-based discrimination will expand to cover not only race but traits associated with it. This includes, but isn’t limited to, hair texture and hair styles such as braids, locs, and twists.

 

Action Items

Add the protections against race-based discrimination to your equal employment policies.