🌟 What Is Minnesota Paid Leave?

The Minnesota Paid Leave program begins January 1, 2026, and offers paid, job-protected time off to eligible workers for significant family and medical events. Whether it’s recovering from a health condition, caring for a loved one, bonding with a new child, addressing certain military-related events, or managing personal safety issues, this program is designed to support Minnesotans during these critical times.

🛡️ Types of Leave Covered

• Medical Leave: Up to 12 weeks per benefit year for:
  • Addressing your own serious mental or physical health condition
• Family Leave: Up to 12 weeks per benefit year for:
  • Caring for a family member who has a serious mental or physical health condition
  • Bonding with a new child
  • Obtaining medical care related to pregnancy or related health conditions
  • Addressing certain military-related events related to a military member’s active duty or notice of an impending call or order to active duty
  • Addressing personal safety issues related to domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking

If both types of leave are utilized in a single benefit year, the combined maximum length of benefits is 20 weeks.

👥 Who Is Eligible?

Eligibility extends to most Minnesota workers, including full‑time, part‑time, and certain seasonal employees. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is responsible for determining employee eligibility. To qualify for job protection upon returning from leave, an employee must have worked at their job for at least 90 days.

💰 How Is It Funded? How Much Will My Weekly Benefits Be?

The Minnesota Paid Leave program is financed through payroll deductions on employee wages. Employers are required to pay at least one-half of the premium and may begin payroll deductions on January 1, 2026. Employees are responsible for the remaining half of premiums.

Benefits paid under the Minnesota Paid Leave program will range from approximately 55% to 90% of the employee’s wages and will be paid weekly. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is responsible for paying weekly benefits to eligible employees.

📅 Key Dates to Remember

• December 2025: Deadline for employers to notify employees about Paid Leave benefits.
• January 1, 2026: Program benefits become available; payroll deductions begin.

📚 Learn More

For comprehensive information, resources, and updates, visit the official Minnesota Paid Leave websites:

• Minnesota Paid Leave: https://mn.gov/deed/paidleave/
• For Individuals and Families: https://mn.gov/deed/paidleave/employees/
• For Employers: https://mn.gov/deed/paidleave/employers/

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