Paid Leave offers payments and job protections that make it possible to care for yourself of a family member.
Medical Leave: To care for your own serious health condition.
Bonding Leave: To bond with a child through birth, adoption, or foster placement.
Caring Leave: To care for a family member with a serious health condition.
Safety Leave: To respond to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, for you or a family member.
Military Family Leave: To support a family member called to active duty.
Am I covered?
Most Minnesota workers are covered.
Paid Leave coverage is very broad. Paid Leave covers nearly all Minnesota workers – including full time, part time, temporary, and most seasonal workers. It covers nearly every employer, regardless of business industry or size.
There are a few exceptions.
Independent contractors, self-employed individuals, and Tribal Nations are not covered by the program, but they can opt in.
Federal government employees, postal workers, and railroad employees are not covered for their work at those jobs, and cannot opt in.
Those working in positions that have been designated as seasonal hospitality employment are excluded from Paid Leave for that position. Your employer will notify you if you're designated.
Can I take Paid Leave?
Answer a few questions to find out if you may be able to receive Paid Leave payments.
How much will I be paid?
Paid Leave offers part of your usual pay.
Paid Leave pays part of your normal pay. Most people will receive between 55% and 90% of their regular wages while on leave, with a maximum amount set at the state's average wage. Right now, this is $1,423 per week.
Calculate your Payments
Here’s a quick, simple way to estimate the weekly payments you could receive while on leave.
To receive payments, you must have earned at least $3,900 in the last year. This amount can come from one job or be combined from multiple jobs. Payments come from the state, not your employer.
How much time can I take?
You can take up to 12 weeks for one leave. In a single benefit year, you can take:
Family Leave: Up to 12 weeks.
Medical Leave: Up to 12 weeks.
If you need both types of leave in the same benefit year, you can take up to 20 weeks. Your benefit year starts the first day you take leave.
Leave can be taken continuously, in one block of time, or intermittently, in smaller blocks of time. Intermittent leave can be taken when you need it, such as for chronic migraines, or on a set schedule, like taking someone to a monthly appointment (which is sometimes called a "reduced schedule" or "reduced leave").
Is my job protected?
Paid Leave offers protections for workers that make it possible to be there for the moments that matter.
Job protections
Generally, you must be restored to your job or an equivalent position when you return from leave. Job protections start 90 days after your date of hire.
Health insurance
Generally, your health insurance and other group insurance plans must continue while you are on leave. You and your employer are responsible for the premiums that you normally pay.
No retaliation or interference
Employers must not interfere with or retaliate against you if you apply for or use Paid Leave. Employers cannot take your Paid Leave payments. These protections apply no matter how long you have been at your job.
Other programs
You may qualify for other job protections under programs like the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Minnesota's Pregnancy and Parental Leave Act (PPL), or Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST).
Report a concern
If you are concerned that an employer is not following the Paid Leave law, you can report it.
Take Action:
Visit the Paid Leave website to learn more.
Contact Cancer Legal Care with Paid Leave questions or issues.
Sign up for email updates from Paid Leave.
Log in to your Paid Leave Account to apply.
*The Department of Employment and Economic Development (Paid Leave) sponsors this information.
