Business owners in Minneapolis react to the latest proposal from City Council.
A proposal that would affect workplace pay and scheduling could be up for a vote in the Minneapolis City Council as soon as mid-November.
Known as the “Working Families Agenda,” the Minneapolis City Council proposal would require employers to schedule every employee at least four weeks in advance and require employers to provide paid sick leave to every employee. Accompanying penalties would be levied for businesses that don’t comply.
In a recent meeting about the event, many small restaurant owners said the proposal could put them out of business, according to CBS Minnesota. Effects of other legislation, such as the minimum wage increases throughout the country, have already had a negative impact that might be worse than previously been reported.
In one of the meetings, as the MinnPost reports, business owners suggested reasons why the advanced scheduling doesn’t work, such as a restaurant with a large patio that books a lot of staff for an afternoon but then has to send staff home if it were to rain.
Advocacy groups, such as the Main Street Alliance, which has supported higher minimum wages and sick days, are calling for less extreme measures. The group’s proposed changes would have employers post schedules 14 days in advance, instead of the City Council’s proposed 28. The requirements would also be phased in for small businesses, potentially over the course of 18 months, the MinnPost reports.
In terms of sick leave, the Minneapolis City Council proposal states that:
– Employees earn one hour of sick pay for every 30 hours worked
– Sick days would cap out at nine per year for businesses with more than 21 employees
– Sick days would cap out at five for smaller businesses
A comment period for the proposals is on the city’s webpage and ends Oct. 16. If the City Council plan is approved, changes would go into effect in January.
Known as the “Working Families Agenda,” the Minneapolis City Council proposal would require employers to schedule every employee at least four weeks in advance and require employers to provide paid sick leave to every employee. Accompanying penalties would be levied for businesses that don’t comply.
In a recent meeting about the event, many small restaurant owners said the proposal could put them out of business, according to CBS Minnesota. Effects of other legislation, such as the minimum wage increases throughout the country, have already had a negative impact that might be worse than previously been reported.
In one of the meetings, as the MinnPost reports, business owners suggested reasons why the advanced scheduling doesn’t work, such as a restaurant with a large patio that books a lot of staff for an afternoon but then has to send staff home if it were to rain.
Advocacy groups, such as the Main Street Alliance, which has supported higher minimum wages and sick days, are calling for less extreme measures. The group’s proposed changes would have employers post schedules 14 days in advance, instead of the City Council’s proposed 28. The requirements would also be phased in for small businesses, potentially over the course of 18 months, the MinnPost reports.
In terms of sick leave, the Minneapolis City Council proposal states that:
– Employees earn one hour of sick pay for every 30 hours worked
– Sick days would cap out at nine per year for businesses with more than 21 employees
– Sick days would cap out at five for smaller businesses
A comment period for the proposals is on the city’s webpage and ends Oct. 16. If the City Council plan is approved, changes would go into effect in January.
