Public Health staff shape new City ordinance
The City Council unanimously approved an earned sick and safe leave ordinance for workers who work at least 80 hours per year in Bloomington. The ordinance outlines 1 hour of leave for every 30 hours worked, up to 48 hours in a year. Businesses with six or more employees must provide paid time off while businesses with five or less employees only need to provide unpaid time. The ordinance will go into effect July 1, 2023.
Council appointed a task force comprised of staff from Public Health, COED, Legal, and the City Manager’s office. It also included residents and members from Bloomington’s business community, nonprofits, and organized labor.
Public Health reviewed available data and found that approximately 41% of Minnesotans lack access to paid sick leave. Data also highlighted inequities in access across race, gender, and income. The same workers that are least likely to have sick leave or the financial ability to forego wages are in occupations most likely to have contact with the public.
“When you don’t have access to paid leave, you are more likely to come to work or send your children to school while sick. This can worsen or prolong illnesses and increase infection rates,” Public Health Specialist Kate Ebert said.
Public Health looked to research from past global outbreaks, like H1N1 in 2009, to see the impact of these policies. It’s estimated that 5-7 million Americans contracted the flu that year due to lack of paid sick leave.
Significantly, the ordinance also provides “safe leave,” which is paid time off for victims of domestic abuse or sexual assault. This time can be used to receive medical treatment, legal support, relocation services, and other supports to ensure their protection and well-being.
“This ordinance will result in a healthier and more productive workforce, better health outcomes for our community, and improved family economic security,” Ebert explained.
Reach out to Kate for more information about Bloomington's Earned Sick and Safe Leave ordinance.
Meet Ayan
Ayan Maye is a Public Health Nurse who joined the Division in May of 2017 and works in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutrition Program. Learn more about Ayan below!
What does fulfilling our mission mean to you?
Establishing partnerships and building trust with communities to achieve optimal health and wellness is what it means to me.
What was your first project in your current role?
I coordinated the vaccine hesitancy outreach grant, which recently ended on June 30.
Favorite morning beverage: Roasted coconut coffee or ginger-infused chai tea
What kinds of activities do you enjoy outside of work?
Nature and outdoor activities are two of my favorite things, along with spending time with my family.
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why?
I would love to visit Turkey and explore its ancient ruins, as well as Istanbul's Grand Bazaar.
Favorite quote?
“Stay true to yourself. People respond to authenticity.”
―Barbra Streisand
Meet Kelly
Kelly Deweese has served the Public Health Division since September of 2019, working as a Public Health Specialist (Planner) within the Population Health and Planning team. While Kelly was born and raised in Minnesota, she has lived in six states: California, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York and Wyoming. Read on about Kelly!
What does our mission look like on a day-to-day basis for you?
Day-to-day, that looks like using my knowledge and skills to provide everyone with the data and information needed to see what the community’s health needs are and how we might start to work together to address those.
What do you love most about your job?
I really love being able to get in the zone while working on data projects, just listening to some music and focusing on numbers or spreadsheets or writing code.
What kinds of activities do you enjoy outside of work? I love to read, swim (in lakes/oceans), hike, and bake. So far in 2022 I have read 68 books, many of which I read while floating in or sitting by a lake.
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why? Most of my travel goals involve seeing wildlife, and Antarctica is next on my wish list.
Meet Nhi
Nhi Vo joined the Public Health Division in April of 2018, and is a member of the Administrative Services team, working as an Office Assistant. Nhi is one of the friendly faces you’ll see around the building. Read on to learn more about her!
What does our mission mean to you?
Bloomington Public Health’s mission illustrates providing services equitably and respectfully to not only the communities of Bloomington, Edina and Richfield, but also to its visitors.
What do you love most about your job?
THE STAFF – it is wonderful being surrounded by co-workers and supervisors who are approachable, kind, flexible, fun and compassionate!
COMMUNITY – I appreciate servicing diverse cultural ethnicities and encountering various languages here in BER!
Favorite morning beverage: Milk tea on ice
What kinds of activities do you enjoy outside of work? Traveling (when I can), fishing, shopping, cooking/baking, and spending quality time with my husband, family and friends.
What is a fun fact that not a lot of people know about you?
I used to be a barista! I also speak English, Vietnamese and some Spanish.
Give a shout out to a Public Health coworker!
Have you seen a Public Health coworker go above and beyond? Want to give a virtual high-five to a team or workgroup?
Public Health has a new kudos board to help you do just that. The kudos board will remain open, and the most recent kudos will be shared in this newsletter, starting in September.
As always, use the City’s “Kudoz” board when you’d like to give a shout out to someone across the full City organization.
The purpose of Public Health Highlights is to increase staff’s pride in working for the Division through inspiring stories and to build connection among staff by highlighting individual staff members.
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