Beginning on January 1, 2025, employers in four states will be required to implement their state’s new Paid Leave programs. This represents a fundamental shift in employee leave considerations for the future. We will look into each paid leave program in turn. We will finish this series with a look at Minnesota’s Paid Leave Law.

 

What is the Minnesota Paid Leave Law?

 

Eligible employees may take leave under the new Minnesota law for the following reasons:

 

- To bond with a new child in the family (Family Leave)

 

- To care for a family member with a serious health condition (Family Leave)

 

- To assist a family member in conjunction with a case of sexual assault, domestic abuse or stalking (Family Leave)

 

- To assist a family member in conjunction with a family member on active duty or who has received an impending order to active duty (Family Leave)

 

- To care for your own serious health condition when your health condition prevents you from working (Medical Leave)

 

An individual may take up to 12 weeks of leave for each type (Family or Medical), up to 20 weeks annually combined. Leave will be job-protected.

 

Who is Eligible for Minnesota Paid Leave?

 

Most employees are eligible for leave under the law so long as their primary place of work is in Minnesota.

 

Nearly all employers (regardless of business size or number of employees) will be required to provide Paid Leave. This leave is different from leave granted under the Minnesota Parental Leave Act,

 

Important Dates

 

Wage Detail Reports must be prepared quarterly, beginning October 31, 2024.

 

Employers must inform employees of their rights under the Minnesota Paid Leave Law by 12/1/2025.

 

Contributions to the Program by employers are due by 4/30/2026.

 

Payroll Deductions from employee wages are to begin on 01/01/2026.

 

Benefits begin 01/01/2026.

 

Conclusion

 

Although most significant parts of the Paid Leave Law do not begin until the end of 2025, employers should still be proactive and begin preparing their payroll departments for the necessary paycheck deductions that Paid Leave requires. Employers must also prepare the quarterly wage detail reports as required by the law, beginning October 31, 2024.