Minnesota Paid Leave Laws 2026
Last updated: · Source: Minnesota labor department
Minnesota · Leave Laws 2026
Federal FMLA
Applies (50+ employees)
State Leave Law
Minnesota Paid Leave
State Employer Threshold
1+
Paid Family Leave
Minnesota Paid Leave — up to $1,423/wk
Bereavement Leave
No mandatory law
FMLA in Minnesota: Federal Leave Protections
Federal FMLA applies to every qualifying employee in Minnesota the same way it applies nationwide: up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for employees who've worked 12+ months and at least 1,250 hours for an employer with 50+ employees within 75 miles.
Minnesota Paid Leave: Benefits & Eligibility
Minnesota's Minnesota Paid Leave (MN Paid Leave) extends job-protected leave to more workers than federal FMLA alone: it applies to employers with as few as 1 employees, versus the federal threshold of 50. Eligible employees can take up to 12 weeks of leave.
Eligibility test: Job restoration requires 90 days employed with your current employer (approximated here as 3 months), and you must independently qualify for Paid Leave benefits by earning at least $3,900 (2026 figure) in your base period. This is different from federal FMLA's 12-month + 1,250-hour test — don't assume the federal rule applies here.
MN Paid Leave Benefits: How Much You Get Paid
Minnesota Paid Leave pays eligible workers approximately 90% of their wages, up to $1,423/week, for up to 12 weeks (up to 20 weeks combined per year across leave types). The program has been in effect since 2026-01-01.
90% of wages up to 50% of the state average weekly wage, 66% of wages from 50-100% of SAWW, and 55% of wages above that, up to the weekly cap. Up to 12 weeks each for medical and family leave, capped at 20 combined weeks per benefit year.
| Weeks available | 12 (20 combined max) |
| Wage replacement | 90% (tiered) |
| Max weekly benefit | $1,423 |
| Covers bonding with a new child | Yes |
| Covers caring for a family member | Yes |
| Covers military family leave | No |
Apply through the official MN Paid Leave site ↗ Estimate your weekly benefit →
Minnesota Bereavement Leave: What MN Law Requires
Minnesota has no law requiring employers to provide bereavement leave. Most employers offer 3–5 days as a matter of policy, not legal obligation — check your employee handbook for your specific employer's bereavement policy.
How MN Paid Leave and FMLA Work Together
When a leave qualifies under both federal FMLA and Minnesota Paid Leave, the two run concurrently — counting against both entitlements at the same time — and the employee gets whichever protection is more generous on each specific point (employer size, weeks, covered relationships).
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Federal FMLA applies to all qualifying employees in Minnesota at covered employers (50+ employees within 75 miles), providing up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave.
Yes. Minnesota has Minnesota Paid Leave (MN Paid Leave), which applies to employers with 1+ employees and provides up to 12 weeks of leave. To qualify: Job restoration requires 90 days employed with your current employer (approximated here as 3 months), and you must independently qualify for Paid Leave benefits by earning at least $3,900 (2026 figure) in your base period.
Yes. Minnesota Paid Leave provides up to 12 weeks of paid leave, replacing approximately 90% of wages up to a maximum weekly benefit of $1,423.
No. Minnesota has no law requiring bereavement leave. Any bereavement leave is provided at the employer's discretion.
When a leave qualifies under both federal FMLA and Minnesota Paid Leave, the two typically run concurrently (at the same time), and the employee receives whichever protection is more generous on each specific point, such as employer size threshold or weeks available.