Be in the Know: New Rules on Leave

Covered employers

All employers regardless of their size or number of employees located in Minnesota.

Coverage options

Employers may use the state or a private state-approved plan.

Cost

The cost of the program will be 0.88% of an employee’s taxable wages capped at the Social Security wage base rounded to the nearest thousand  per MN statute ($185,000 in 2026, increasing to $192,000 effective 1/1/2027). An employer may not deduct more than a maximum of 50% (0.44%) of this premium to their employees through wage deduction.

Employee eligibility

Employee must have earned at least 5.3% of the state average weekly wage in the individuals base period or self-employed individuals who elect coverage under the plan. Some Seasonal Workers are excluded.

Leave Reasons

Caring for a family member, bonding, medical, safe leave, qualifying exigency.

Job protection

Requires continuation of benefits, and right to reinstatement after 90 days tenure.

Benefits

Employees receive up to 90% of their average weekly wage on a sliding scale. The maximum benefit is 100% of the state average weekly wage.

• 12 weeks medical leave, 12 weeks family leave, 20 weeks combined max.
• Has a required seven-day qualifying event period. Employees must experience a qualifying event that lasts for at least seven consecutive days (unless leave is intermittent), which is not an unpaid waiting period. The qualifying event is determined based on the length of the condition, not the length/amount of leave. (It does not apply to bonding or safe leave).