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
On January 19, 2023, the Mayor signed Ordinance 23-2 to amend the City of St. Paul Legislative Code Chapter 233, Earned Sick and Safe Time Ordinance. The amended Ordinance became effective February 24, 2023. Oversight and enforcement for this Ordinance lies within the Human Rights & Equal Economic Department (HREEO). Per the Saint Paul Legislative Code, HREEO is required to draft, publish, and adopt Administrative Rules. HREEO has updated the Administrative Rules to align with the amended Ordinance.
The final rules were published on May 25, 2023. Per Section 233.12 of the ESST Ordinance, these Rules are now in effect as of June 24, 2023.
Read the Amended Earned Sick and Safe Time Ordinance
Read the ESST Administrative Rules
The City of Saint Paul aligned its ESST ordinance with the Minnesota state statue, effective January 1, 2024. Staff is currently revising the Administrative Rules document and will open a 30-day public comment period for feedback on our website.
ESST Ordinance Amended on October 18, 2023
Earned 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.
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.
