Minnesota’s paid Family and Medical Benefit Insurance Program (Paid Leave), which applies to employers of all sizes, will provide job-protected leave for employees beginning January 1, 2026. The program will be funded through employee and employer payroll contributions. Employers should begin deducting the employee share of the premium on January 1, 2026. The first premiums must be paid to the state Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) by April 30, 2026.
The Paid Leave law allows covered employees to take up to 12 weeks of medical leave for their own serious health condition or up to 12 weeks of family leave per benefit year. Family leave can be taken to bond with a new child, care for a sick family member, support a family member called to active military duty, or to respond to safety-related issues such as domestic violence. If an employee needs both medical leave and family leave during a benefit year, the total combined leave is limited to 20 weeks per benefit year.
Employer Notice
By December 1, 2025, employers must provide all employees with written notice about their rights and benefits under the law in their primary language. The same notice needs to be provided to new hires within 30 days of hire or 30 days before premium collection begins, whichever is later. Employers need to get written or electronic acknowledgment from each employee that they received this notice.
If an employer only provides this notice electronically, they need to make an employer-owned computer available during the employee’s regular working hours so they can view and print the information.
The DEED has provided a sample notice in English and will provide sample notices in additional languages on its site.
Posting
Additionally, by December 1, 2025, employers must display the poster issued by the DEED in a conspicuous place at each worksite. It needs to be posted in English and—if a translation is made available by the DEED—in any language that’s the primary language of five or more workers at that worksite.
More Information
The state has a website with FAQs, an overview of the program, and other resources for employers. Additional details on Paid Leave can be found on the Mineral platform (search “Minnesota Family and Medical Leave”).
Action Items
Provide individual notice to current employees by December 1, 2025, and incorporate the notice into your new hire paperwork or onboarding materials.
Display a poster at each worksite by December 1, 2025.
Create a policy that addresses this benefit entitlement. If you use our Smart Employee Handbook, simply accept the update when you receive the platform notification.