Protesters have converged on the State Capitol as the Minnesota Senate prepares to vote on a bill that would override Minneapolis and Saint Paul ordinances requiring employers to provide paid sick and family leave. Minneapolis business owner Dan Swenson-Klatt says if he needs to raise wages and provide sick time to keep good employees, he’ll do it — but Swenson-Klatt adds, “My competition doesn’t have to do the right thing. They can just go with the lowest possible standards and slip by.”
The bill would also prohibit local governments from setting a minimum wage higher than in state law, requiring employers provide certain benefits, or regulating work hours or scheduling. Backers argue it’s necessary so businesses don’t face a patchwork of local regulations and decide to expand outside of Minnesota.