July 24, 2025

LeadingAge Minnesota Certified Worker Organization Training Compliance Webinar and Materials Now Available

On July 24, 2025 by Mark Schulz

The Minnesota Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board (NHWSB) has established training requirements for nursing home employers under the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board Act. All nursing home workers must complete at least one hour of training every two years on their workplace rights, provided by a Certified Worker Organization (CWO). This requirement takes effect January 1, 2025, with full compliance required by December 31, 2026.

On July 24, LeadingAge Minnesota staff conducted an important webinar on the new Certified Worker Organization (CWO) training requirements for nursing facilities. During the webinar staff reviewed the key employer responsibilities under the Minnesota Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board Act, including timelines, compliance documentation, and employee training logistics. Understanding this information is critical to help your organization prepare for employee training certification.

What Are Certified Worker Organizations?

Certified Worker Organizations (CWOs) are entities—primarily unions—that meet specific certification criteria set by the NHWSB. These organizations are responsible for providing training that covers:

• Minimum wage and working conditions standards,
• Anti-retaliation protections,
• How to report violations, and
• Additional worker rights and safety information.

Several organizations, including SEIU, AFSCME, and AFL-CIO, were certified to conduct the training.

Employer Responsibilities

Nursing home employers must:

• Ensure all nursing home workers complete the required training every two years;
• Submit written attestations to the NHWSB confirming compliance;
• Pay employees for the training hour and any reasonable travel expenses if training occurs offsite;
• Share employee contact information with the CWO after training sessions, unless workers opt out by submitting a written statement

Employers are not required to host training onsite but must arrange for workers to attend certified sessions. Employers are advised to use LeadingAge Minnesota legal counsel developed model posters, opt-out forms, and educational scripts to communicate these requirements to staff and maintain proper documentation.

Resources Available

The NHWSB website will list certified organizations and resources to help employers comply with the training standards.

LeadingAge Minnesota’s external legal counsel has also developed model materials to help facilities navigate the new requirements.  Those resources include:

• LeadingAge Minnesota Memorandum on Employee Opt Out Process - Read how your organization can educate employees about their rights to opt out of giving certified worker organizations their contact information.
• Script for Employee Opt Out Education Meeting - Use this legal counsel developed script verbatim when educating non-union employees about their rights to opt out of giving certified worker organizations their contact information.
• Employee Opt Out Form - Download this legal counsel developed form when employees wish to prohibit you from providing their contact information to certified worker organizations.
• Certified Worker Organization Training Employee Rights Poster - Download and post this legal counsel developed notice about employee rights regarding worker training and their right to restrict worker organizations from receiving their contact information.

These resources and others including a recording of the webinar and the webinar slides are now available on our webpage dedicated to the topic of certified worker organizations.

Please reach out to Mark Schulz with any questions.