If you work in Minneapolis or St. Paul and your employer has more than 6 employees, you get paid sick leave under the Sick and Safe Leave rules. You can use this leave to look for help from law enforcement, get counseling, or other services you need for domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking suffered by you or a covered family member.
If you don’t work in Minneapolis or St. Paul, Minnesota law says that most employers have to let employees use their unused paid sick leave to look for help from law enforcement, get counseling, or other services you need for domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking that involve you or a covered family member. You are covered by this law if you have been at your job at least 12 months and work at least half time.
Family members covered by the law include your child, spouse, sibling, parent, mother or father-in-law, grandchild and step-parent.
If your employer doesn’t have paid sick leave, they don’t have to pay you for the time off. But, if you are a crime victim, you may be able to get help from the Minnesota Crime Victims Reparations Board.
You can apply for help if you lost at least $50 because of the situation. This includes lost pay. To apply, you have to report the crime to the police within 30 days of it happening, you have to cooperate with investigation and prosecution, and you have to file a claim within 3 years.
For more information about reparations or application forms, contact:
Minnesota Crime Victims Reparations Board
Office of Justice Programs, Minnesota Department of Public Safety
445 Minnesota Street
Suite 2300, St. Paul, MN 55101-1515
1 (888) 622-8799 or (651) 201-7300
https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ojp/help-for-crime-victims/Pages/crime-victims-reparations.aspx