HR Update

As of January 1, 2025, the University revised how employees can use Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) to align with a new state law. This applies to all ESST-eligible employees. The changes include:

Expanded Use  

Civil Service and Labor-represented employees may now use accrued sick time for an ESST-qualifying reason.

Eligible faculty and P&A employees can use up to the first ten days of an academic medical leave for an ESST-qualifying reason.

Documentation Requirements

Civil Service and Labor-represented employees cannot be asked to provide documentation for an absence (ESST-qualifying or not) until they out for three consecutive scheduled work days. This change supersedes department policies or contract language regarding documentation requirements 

As before, documentation is not required for faculty and P&A academic medical leave during the first 10 continuous days.

Definition of a Family Member

The ESST definition of family member is broader in many circumstances and now applies to sick time and the first ten days of academic medical leave for ESST-qualifying reasons.

Protection from Adverse Action

Employees cannot be disciplined or retaliated against because they used or attempted to use ESST. Time away using ESST cannot be counted as an absence that may result in adverse action under an attendance policy or point system. This extends to ESST-qualifying reasons when employees utilize their sick time or academic medical leave. 

The University anticipates additional guidance on the expanded use in early 2025.  After this guidance is released, applicable contracts and University policies will be updated later in 2025.

If you have questions about ESST, please contact your unit's HR representative, or email or call the OHR Contact Center at ohr@umn.edu, 612-624-8647, or 800-756-2363.