An unemployment law recently passed by the state is unfair to family businesses that hire their children.
The new law states that if an owner of a business who owns
25 percent of the business hires any offspring those children can only draw five weeks of unemployment while other employees can draw 26 weeks. This is discrimination against family businesses that hire family members.
The law also states that if a family member has earned $7,500 or more in the last 16 quarters, and all taxes on the wages are paid, the five-week limit does not apply. Sixteen quarters is four years; what about seasonal businesses?
I have called the state and have been told this law's problems need to be dealt with in the next legislative session. Why was there nothing in the newspapers regarding this new law before it was passed? Also, why did we get notice of this in the second week of September, with the new law retroactive to July 1?
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This new law is going to drive family members away from working together as a family. Is this what we want people to know about Minnesota, that the state is unfriendly to family businesses? I would think not.
SUSAN LARSON
Esko
