What Minnesota Employers Need to Know About Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST)
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Since January 1, 2024, Minnesota's Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) law has been in effect—but many small businesses are still catching up. If you haven’t reviewed your policies or aren’t sure what the law requires, now is a great time to get compliant and protect your business.
💡 What is Minnesota's ESST?
Under Minnesota’s ESST law, most employees in the state are entitled to earn paid time off they can use when they or a family member are sick, need medical care, or are dealing with domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking.
🧾 The Basics
Who’s Covered:All employees (full-time, part-time, temporary, and seasonal) who work at least 80 hours per year in Minnesota
Accrual:1 hour of ESST for every 30 hours worked
Maximum Accrual:Employees can earn up to 48 hours per year, and carry over up to 80 hours
Usage:Can be used for physical or mental illness, medical appointments, school closures due to weather, and safe leave situations
🚨 Common Compliance Gaps
Many small businesses think they’re covered—but miss one or more of these key requirements:
Policies not updated in the employee handbook
No clear process for accruing, tracking, or reporting ESST hours
Managers unsure when or how employees can use their time
Offering PTO but not ensuring it meets ESST minimums
📌 What You Should Do Now
Review Your Paid Leave PolicyEnsure your current sick or PTO policy meets (or exceeds) ESST requirements.
Start Tracking Hours WorkedEven part-time and seasonal employees earn ESST—your tracking system must include them.
Post the Required NoticeMinnesota requires a notice be provided to employees explaining their ESST rights.
Train Your TeamManagers should understand when ESST can be used and how to approve or document usage appropriately
🧰 Need Help Sorting It Out?
At People Solutions Hub, we help small businesses stay compliant without the stress.
Our support includes:
Reviewing and updating leave policies
Providing tracking tools for ESST accrual and usage
Drafting employee handbook language
Training for owners and managers
Let’s Get You Covered
If you’re unsure whether your current practices meet Minnesota ESST requirements, don’t wait until there’s an issue. Let’s schedule a free HR check-up and ensure your policies are aligned.
About People Solutions Hub
People Solutions Hub was founded by Nicki Leritz, an HR leader committed to giving small and mid-sized businesses clear, practical, and compliant people operations. After years of watching employers struggle with shifting laws, confusing deadlines, and inconsistent HR support, Nicki built PSH to bridge the gap between what teams need and what real-world businesses can actually manage. Today, our team helps Minnesota employers navigate everything from PFML compliance, employee handbooks, and HR audits to pay transparency, wage notices,
and leave management.
We believe HR shouldn’t feel overwhelming, it should feel supportive and built for long-term stability.
At People Solutions Hub, we partner with business owners, managers, and growing teams to simplify compliance, strengthen workplace culture, and build people systems that actually work.
📩 Reach out at psolutionshub@gmail.com
🌐 Visit www.peoplesolutionshub.co
