Minnesota nursing home operators say new minimum wage rules designed to raise their employees' pay could force some facilities to close, according to a new MinnPost deep dive.
Why it matters: Labor unions argue that without better pay, Minnesota's nursing homes will struggle to attract and retain workers to the taxing job of caring for more than 23,000 patients.
How it works: The new minimum wage rates — which take effect in January — are the first bold move by Minnesota's "Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board."
The board was created in 2023 by the DFL-controlled Legislature to issue sweeping labor mandates on the nursing home industry, where unions — weakened by constant turnover — have proven ineffective.
By the numbers: The new minimum wage for general nursing home employees will be $19 an hour and those withnursing credentials must be paid at least $22.50 to $27 an hour, depending on their qualifications.
Friction point: Nursing home operators — particularly in rural areas, where the workforce is already stretched thin — worry that even $36 million in state aid to help afford the hikes won't be enough.
