Minnsights Blog

The Minnesota Chamber has worked throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to help our members create economic opportunity to improve the lives of all Minnesotans. Our advocacy on behalf of employers, their employees and communities helps keep and expand business and jobs in Minnesota. We look forward to working with lawmakers to enact policies that will help the business community recover from the COVID-19 recession and flourish in the long-term.

Access to high-quality, affordable health care is necessary for employers to stay competitive. A strong majority of Minnesota Chamber member organizations offer health insurance to their employees, although employers – especially small employers – struggle with the high cost of insurance. And according to a recent survey, 75% of those who offer these benefits report that they will need to make a change their offerings if costs continue to increase.

Minnesota businesses value the contributions of immigrants to the state. Their roles as workers, entrepreneurs, consumer and a link to the world economy are increasingly important to the development and growth of the economy and communities throughout Minnesota. Demographics show that as the population ages and the economy grows, Minnesota will not have the numbers of people available to fill labor needs, and immigrants are a key solution to this challenge. 

Environmental sustainability and economic competitiveness do not need to be mutually exclusive. Minnesota energy providers and ratepayers have made significant investments to enhance energy systems – power generation, transmission and pipelines – and reduced harmful environments impacts at the same time. According to a recent study of businesses, 75% names reliability and affordability as the most important consideration of energy policy. Legislators must take steps to ensure affordable and reliable energy for businesses and oppose new mandates, fees and assessments that increase electricity prices.

Minnesota companies are often recognized as some of the best places to work in the nation. Employers are in the best position to design benefit packages that serve the needs of their businesses and employees. Mandating broad-sweeping, one-size-fits-all employee benefits threaten employees’ ability to compete, especially as the state’s economy begins to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Legislators must preserve private-sector flexibility on wage, benefit, scheduling and employee classification divisions.