Minneapolis, Minnesota, Provides Guidance on Paid Sick Leave and COVID-19
The City of Minneapolis issued a frequently asked questions guide (FAQs) regarding the application of Minneapolis’ Sick and Safe Time Ordinance to absences related to COVID-19. The FAQs clarify that an employee may use accrued sick and safe leave for absences related to:
- Testing;
- Care or quarantine due to COVID-19 symptoms or infection;
- Quarantine following close contact with a COVID-19-infected or symptomatic person;
- Caring for family members whose school or place of care was closed due to COVID-19; and
- Workplace closures by order of a public official.
The FAQs also clarify that “preemptive closures” (i.e., absent an order by a public official) and “preemptive self-quarantines” (i.e., without reason to believe the employee has contracted the illness) are not covered uses under the ordinance. Finally, the FAQs also clarify that employees may only use sick and safe time to cover scheduled shifts or the shifts the employee would have expected to work had their work not been ordered closed by a public official.
For a copy of the FAQs, click on the link provided below:
http://sicktimeinfo.minneapolismn.gov/uploads/9/6/3/1/96313024/covid-19_and_sst_3_18_20.pdf
For more information on the Minneapolis Sick and Safe Time Ordinance, click on the link provided below:
http://sicktimeinfo.minneapolismn.gov/
COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Guidance Issued by Duluth, Minnesota
The City of Duluth has issued frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding its Earned Sick and Safe Time Ordinance. The FAQs clarify that an employee may use “sick time” for an employee’s own medical diagnosis, care, treatment, or preventative care or to care for a family member who needs medical diagnosis, care, treatment, or preventative care. The FAQs also imply that employers should not “prevent an employee from working” based on travel to particular areas. However, the FAQs do not address an employer’s ability to request that employees work from home following travel, self-quarantine by employees after contact with an individual who has contracted coronavirus, or whether leave could be used for absences associated with closures ordered by a public official (including schools and child-care facilities).
For a copy of the FAQs, click on the link provided below:
https://duluthmn.gov/media/9458/covid19-info.pdf
A link has been provided below, should you want to access information on the Duluth Earned Sick and Safe Time Ordinance.
https://duluthmn.gov/city-clerk/earned-sick-safe-time/about-earned-sick-safe-time/
