2.3 ERMUSR 03-11-2025UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO:FROM:
ERMU CommissionMark Hanson– General Manager
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
March 11, 20252.3
SUBJECT:
2024 Fourth Quarter Year-to-Date Earned Sick and Safe Time Usage
ACTION REQUESTED:
None
BACKGROUND:
Effective January 1, 2024, the Minnesota Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) law requires
Minnesota employers to provide paid leave to employees. The Commission adopted the policy
at their December 2023 commission meeting. ERMU’s adopted policy went beyond the
minimum requirements of the ESST law by applying the eligibility criteria to all accrued sick
time. Upon approving the policy, the Commission asked for quarterly updates on sick time
usage through 2024. This will be the last update provided as effective January 1, 2025, the
updated ESST law now applies to all accrued sick time.
DISCUSSION:
To track the usage between prior eligibility requirements and the new ESST provisions, sick time
usage was categorized into the following requirements (family equivalent was used to track
when care was needed for someone beyond the former eligibility requirements):
Prior Eligibility Requirements:
o Medical Care, Self or Family
o Daycare Closure, Family
New ESST Provisions
o Work/School Closure, Self or Family
o Medical Care, Family Equivalent
o Daycare Closure, Family Equivalent
o Work/School Closure, Family Equivalent
o Funeral, Family Equivalent
2024 fourth quarter year-to-date, 3146.5 hours of sick time were used. Of the total time, 2934
hours were used for medical care of self or family members; 145.5 hours were used due to
daycare closure; 16 hours were used due to school closure; 14 hours were used for medical
care for family equivalent; and 21 hours were used for funeral matters. A total of 51 hours
would have required vacation time prior to the adoption of ESST, which included the 16 hours
used due to school closure, 14 hours used for medical care for family equivalent and 21hours
for funeral matters. For reference, 2586 hours of sick time were used 2023 fourth quarter year-
to-date.
______________________________________________________________________________
Page 1 of 1
62