Judge Decides that the Minneapolis Sick and Safe Time Ordinance Does Not Apply to Employers Based Outside the City of Minneapolis

On May 8, 2018, Hennepin County District Court Judge Mel I. Dickstein ruled that the City of Minneapolis cannot enforce its sick and safe time ordinance against an employer based outside the geographical boundaries of Minneapolis. He wrote:

Any potential benefit to the health and safety of Minneapolis residents from an employee who works the requisite 80 hours pales when weighed against the imposition of recordkeeping and administrative obligations incurred by companies located outside the City. There is, therefore, no apparent rational explanation for the 80 hour threshold and the City has offered none.

It is unknown if the City of Minneapolis plans to file an appeal. It is possible that the Minneapolis City Council could modify the ordinance to address Judge Dickstein’s objections to application of the ordinance to employers based outside the city’s boundaries.