Employees will be able to use sick leave in more situations

A change in Minnesota law governing sick leave makes it easier for employees to take time off while caring for parents, adult children or other close relatives — and not just children, as had been specified under the law.

Many firms already allow such use of sick time, in part because they are moving toward policies of paid time off, or PTO. Typically, businesses that offer PTO lump together sick time and vacation time, leaving to the employee how to use it.