New Bi-Partisan Family Sick Leave Law Will Help Thousands of Family Caregivers

Press Release from AARP:

On August 1, 2013 a new state law will take effect to allow caregivers of adult family members to use their accrued sick time to care for their loved ones.  Until now many workers across Minnesota, could only use earned days to care for their dependent children.  AARP Minnesota, a strong advocate of the new law, offered the following statement:

“Thanks to the hard work and commitment of the state legislature and Governor Dayton – especially State Senator Bobby Champion and State Representative Rick Hansen – thousands of caregivers in Minnesota will wake up tomorrow with a key resource that will help them take care of their parents or other family members in need of care,” said Michele Kimball, AARP State Director.

According to AARP’s new report Keeping Up with the Times: Supporting Family Caregivers with Workplace Leave Policies, nearly two-thirds of workers aged 45 to 74 provide care for an aging relative.  As the population ages, more workers will need time away from to care for an elderly parent or an ailing spouse.

“The contributions of Minnesota’s family caregivers are the foundation of our state’s long term care system,” said Kimball.  “Thanks to this new law, workers will now be able to address their own needs and continue to care for their loved ones.  Making this important change now will have a positive impact on families and on our state’s budget pressures in the years ahead. ”

The New Report by Lynn Feinberg AARP Policy Institute, Washington DC, June 2013 Keeping Up with the Times: Supporting Family Caregivers with Workplace Leave Policies can be found at aarp.org/research/ppi.