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CareersMinnesota Paid Leave: Resources for Employers
Effective January 1, 2026, Minnesota's Paid Leave program offers job-protected, partially paid time off for employees who need to address medical or family caregiving needs. This state-run program is funded through payroll contributions from both employers and employees.
What's Minnesota Paid Leave?
- Up to 12 weeks of medical leave for an employee's own serious health condition
- Up to 12 weeks of family leave for bonding with a new child, caring for a family member, certain military exigencies, or safety leave
- Maximum 20 weeks combined per benefit year
- Funded by premiums: 0.88% of taxable wages in 2026, split between employer and employee (small employers may qualify for reduced rates)
How North Risk Partners Will Support You
We will help you understand notice requirements, premium calculations, and how to integrate these with your existing leave policies. Additionally, we will help you assess whether a state plan or an equivalent private plan is more suitable for your business. If you have any questions, reach out to your North Risk Partners team. For those who have opted for the state plan, please contact the state directly.
Employer Toolkit
North Risk Partners Value-Added Service Partner Support
Paid Leave questions can be directed to our HR partners at Wagner, Falconer & Judd (WFJ) through North Risk's Value-Added Services Hotline.
Clients with access to the WFJ Compliance Center may also submit a ticket through the secure portal. Clients who do not yet have Compliance Center access and contact WFJ via the hotline will be enrolled in the portal moving forward.
Required Notices & Posters
Employers are required to:
- Display the official Paid Leave workplace poster in a visible location for all employees
- Ensure the poster is available in English as well as in any language spoken by five or more employees
- Provide written notice to employees in their primary language
- Obtain acknowledgment from employees confirming they have received the notice (e.g., having them sign a form or electronically sign through a payroll system)
Official State Resources
Using the link below, create your UI/Paid Leave and Paid Leave Administrator accounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Last updated on February 24, 2026
Eligibility & Employee Questions
- Employee’s own serious health condition
- Caring for a family member with a serious health condition
- Bonding time with a new child after birth, adoption, or foster placement
- Supporting a family member called to active duty
- Employee who has an issue related to domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking
- Caring for a family member who has an issue related to domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking
Generally, conditions must last more than seven days and be certified by a healthcare provider or other professional.
Employer Compliance & Notice Requirements
Yes. By December 1, 2025, employers were required to:
- Post the official Paid Leave workplace poster, and
- Give each employee an individual written notice of their rights (must be signed electronically or physically)
Different versions apply depending on whether the employer uses the state program or an approved private equivalent plan.
Hospitality employers have additional requirements for classifying certain workers as seasonal.
Templates are available on the Minnesota Paid Leave website.
Employer Compliance & Notice Requirements
Most employers: 0.88%
Small employers: 0.66%
To qualify as a small employer, an employer must:
- Employ 30 or fewer employees in each quarter, and
- Have an average employee wage equal to or less than 150% of the statewide average wage (for 2026, $27,745.88 per quarter).
How Paid Leave Works with Other Leave & Benefits
Employers may require Paid Leave to run concurrently with FMLA and Minnesota Pregnancy and Parental Leave—if the employer’s policy says so.
Employers may not require employees to use PTO, ESST, or vacation time concurrently with Paid Leave, nor require employees to exhaust these balances first.
However, employers may offer them as supplemental benefits, allowing employees to receive up to 100% of their normal earnings.
Pay, Benefits & Administration
State-run program: Employees are paid directly by the State via direct deposit or prepaid debit card.
Private equivalent plan: Employees are paid by the private insurer (or the employer if self-insured).
Leave Usage Rules
Yes. Employees may use up to 480 hours (12 weeks) of intermittent leave each benefit year for any qualifying reason, including bonding time.
Employer policies must state whether intermittent leave is allowed during weeks 13–20.
This page provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Minnesota Paid Leave laws and regulations may have been updated after the last revision of this page.