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Legislative News and Views - Rep. John Lesch (DFL)

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Minneapolis Mayor throws weight behind Earned Sick and Safe Time

Thursday, April 2, 2015

 

Mayor Betsy Hodges pushes expanded workplace benefits in ‘state of the city’ address

 

ST. PAUL, MN – Today during the annual state of the city address, Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges announced her intent to support expanded workplace protections like those included in the Working Parents Act. Mayor Hodges said she believes that as the largest city in the state, Minneapolis must lead on providing working families with access to earned sick leave and safe time, paid family leave, wage theft protections, and safeguards from unfair scheduling practices.

 

State Rep. John Lesch (DFL-St. Paul) is the author of HF 549, which would provide all Minnesota workers with the ability to earn paid sick and safe time. He praised the Mayor’s actions in the following statement:

 

“I am proud of Mayor Hodges’ leadership in bringing earned sick and safe leave to every working mother and father in Minneapolis. This kind of momentum is important to continue pushing this issue forward at the Capitol, where Republican legislators have blocked these measures. The facts are in, and it’s clear from mountains of research that the ability to earn paid sick time will improve the health of employees and their families, will protect the health of customers in service industries, and will increase the economic output of Minnesota businesses. This is a smart move for working families, and it’s a smart move for the economy of Minneapolis.”

 

In March, the Minnesota Department of Health published a “white paper” on the topic of paid family and sick leave that called for the proposed workplace safeguards to be established statewide. According to the Department of Health, paid sick leave is associated with many positive health outcomes for employers and their families. Benefits included faster recovery from illness, fewer on-the-job injuries, and timelier doctor visits that can prevent illness. Paid family leave is associated with better health for mothers and babies - including fewer infant deaths. These positive effects of parental leave on infant mortality only occurred when the leave was paid. The details of that report can be found here. Over 20 cities and states in America have guaranteed workers earned sick and safe leave.

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