Background

As of January 1, 2018 all Saint Paul employers with employees working in Saint Paul must provide Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) to their employees.

ESST can be used for an employee's absence from work due to illness, medical appointments, or critical safety issues, including domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking. All employees working in the City of Saint Paul, for employers located in the City of Saint Paul, are eligible for the benefit, including full time, part-time and temporary workers.

ESST Administrative Rules Update

The City of Saint Paul amended the city Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) Ordinance to better align with the State of Minnesota's ESST law which is now in effect as of January 1, 2024. 

ESST Ordinance Amended on October 18, 2023 

HREEO has updated the Administrative Rules to align with the amended Ordinance and the the final rules are published as of January 8, 2024.

Below is a summary of changes in the ordinance. 

  1. Definition of family

  2. Employees begin accruing ESST on their start date and may use ESST after they have worked 80 hours

  3. Documentation of need to use ESST 

  4. Rehire period 

  5. Enforcement and complaint timelines 

  6. Financial remedies - back pay

  7. Financial remedies - civil penalties 

Final ESST Rules - January 8, 2024

*The Final ESST Rules were re-uploaded on January 11, 2024, with minor formatting changes but no substantive changes. 

 Sick and Safe Time Employer and Employee Resources

Saint Paul employers and employees can visit the ESST Employer and Employee pages for the ESST Rules, Know Your Rights Flyer, Employee Notice posters, as well as additional ESST resources and tools.

Find Additional Employer ESST Resources Find Additional Employee ESST Resources

Minimum Wage & Earned Sick and Safe Time Public Service Announcement in Hmong 

HREEO collaborated with 3HmongTV and Councilmember Nelsie Yang to do a Hmong PSA regarding annual Minimum wage increases and also to inform employees of their right to accrue and use ESST if they work within the geographic boundaries of the city. You can learn more by watching the PSA by Councilmember Nelsie Yang. 

HREEO koom tes nrog 3HmongTV thiab Councilmember Nelsie Yang tshaj tawm qhia txog tias St. Paul yuav nce qhov minimum wage rau cov pejxeem ua hauj lwm hauv St. Paul txhua xyoo thiab yog nej muaj mob nej muaj txoj cai siv ESST. Cov cais no tsuas hais txog cov uas ua hawjlwm hauv St. Paul xwb. Mloog Councilmember Nelsie Yang cov lus yog nej xav paub ntau dua.

Minimum Wage and ESST PSA 

Earned Sick and Safe Time Complaints

If an employee believes their ESST rights have been denied, please complete an ESST Complaint Form and submit it to the Labor Standards Unit for review. After receiving the complaint, a city staff member will follow up with the complainant within five (5) business days.

Complete an ESST Complaint Form

City of St. Paul Jurisdictional Boundaries

Businesses and individuals can use the map of Saint Paul City Council Wards to verify whether an employee is working in the City of Saint Paul. Individuals can either type in a specific address or use the map to zoom in on city boundaries. If "No Results" are found based on an address search, the address is not located within the City of Saint Paul.

Last Edited: January 12, 2024