Members of the DFL Senate and House unveiled a series of bills Thursday aimed at providing paid family leave, earned sick leave, among other workplace protections, they said would give Minnesotans economic security.
House Minority Leader Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis, said the package of bills is a "response to the real challenges facing families."
The labor-backed proposals contained in the so-called Working Parents Act have been unveiled in recent days and include a measure by Rep. Rena Moran, DFL-St. Paul, that would end erratic, last-minute scheduling of hourly workers by employees.
Another measured sponsored by Rep. Carly Melin-DFL-Hibbing, and Sen. David Tomassoni, DFL-Chisholm, would create penalties for employers who skimp on workers' pay. Proponents on the measure say wage theft is a problem that disproportionately affects low-wage and immigrant workers.
The other bills would:
-- Provide sick leave for an estimated 1 million Minnesotans to care for themselves or family.
-- Another bill would prohibit restaurants from deducting credit card processing fees from their servers' tips.
-- Paid family leave would give families up to six weeks of paid leave to bond with a new child, care for an elderly or ill family member or deal with pregnancy-related health concerns.
