Proposed paid leave mandate for Minnesota would impact many Cook County businesses

An event near the shores of Devil Track Lake on Friday, Feb. 10 featured a number of community members discussing the pressing needs of Cook County with state Sen. Grant Hauschild.

Linda Jurek from the Cook County Chamber of Commerce and Visit Cook County was among those in attendance. Jurek and Sen. Hauschild spoke on WTIP Friday morning before a series of discussions were scheduled with business owners, county officials, and others from the community later in the day. Topics community members hoped to address with Sen. Hauschild ranged from housing to pieces of legislation being considered in St. Paul during the 2023 legislative session.

Among the pieces of legislation that could impact businesses in Cook County is the state’s consideration of adding a paid family and medical leave mandate. Establishing a paid family and medical leave system is a popular priority for Democrats in the state Senate. The Associated Press reports it would help people across the state, particularly women of color who disproportionately lack access to jobs that currently provide the benefit, according to at least one newly elected member of the state Senate.

Returning Rep. Melissa Hortman, who is leading Democrats as House Speaker in the new session, agrees that paid family and medical leave is among the party’s biggest priorities, the AP reports.

Not all Cook County business owners agree that adding a paid family and medical leave policy is the right direction for the state to go, at least not under the current language drafted in the proposed bill. Mindy Fredrickson is a co-owner of Gunflint Lodge in Cook County. She visited the Capitol in St. Paul last month to express some of her concerns over the proposal.

To listen to the full interview with Hauschild and Jurek, listen to the audio below.

Joe Friedrichs February 10, 2023