Minnesota Women's Economic Security Act Passed: Employment Law Manual Updated, Legal Timetables Added
Author: Gloria Ju
Minnesota has passed the Women's Economic Security Act, which contains a broad range of provisions affecting Minnesota employers, including:
- A prohibition against discrimination based on familial or caregiver status;
- An increase from six to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for the birth or adoption of a child, plus prenatal care and pregnancy-related health conditions;
- The allowance of personal sick leave to be used for safety leave related to sexual assault, domestic abuse and stalking;
- The requirement to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant employees;
- Increased protections for nursing mothers;
- A requirement for employers with 40 or more employees to obtain an equal pay certificate if they do more than $500,000 of business with the state;
- Protections for employees who disclose or discuss their wages; and
- The expansion of unemployment eligibility to cover victims of sexual assault and stalking.
Some of these provisions took effect immediately, while others take effect August 1 or October 5.
In light of these new requirements, entries have been added to Legal Timetable and the following sections of the Employment Law Manual have been updated:
- Disabilities (ADA): Minnesota;
- EEO - Discrimination: Minnesota;
- EEO - Retaliation: Minnesota;
- Employee Communications: Minnesota;
- Employee Discipline: Minnesota;
- Employee Handbooks - Work Rules - Employee Conduct: Minnesota;
- Employment Offer: Minnesota;
- FMLA: Minnesota;
- Jury Duty: Minnesota;
- Legally Required Benefits: Minnesota;
- New Hire Paperwork: Minnesota;
- Other Leaves: Minnesota;
- Performance Appraisals: Minnesota; and
- Terms of Employment: Minnesota.