Minnesota Paid Leave

The Minnesota Paid Leave Law (MN Paid Leave) entitles eligible employees of the University of Minnesota (University) to take up to 12 weeks (and in some circumstances up to 20 weeks) of partially paid, job protected Medical Leave and Family Care Leave.

Eligibility

MN Paid Leave automatically covers employees who have earned at least 5.3% of Minnesota’s average annual wage ($3,700 in 2024) during the last 12 months and perform 50% or more of their employment in Minnesota. MN Paid Leave also covers employees who perform less than 50% of their employment in Minnesota if the employee's residence is in Minnesota during 50% or more of the calendar year. This includes employees who work from home in Minnesota or spend some time working in other states.

Leave Availability and Use

MN Paid Leave provides partial pay for Medical Leaves and Family Care Leaves. MN Paid Leave is paid for by premiums split 50/50 between the employee and the University. Deductions to employee wages begin with the first paycheck of 2026.

A Medical Leave is leave of at least 7 calendar days taken for:

• for your own Serious Health Condition; or
• for medical care related to pregnancy. 

A Family Care Leave is leave of at least 7 calendar days taken for:

• to care for an Eligible Family Member with a Serious Health Condition;
• for a Bonding Leave (need not meet the 7 calendar day rule);
• for Safety Leave; or
• Military Family Qualifying Exigency Leave. 

Eligible employees are entitled to up to 12 weeks of Medical Leave or Family Care Leave in a Benefit Year. An Eligible Employee experiencing a need for both a Medical Leave and a Family Care Leave in the same Benefit Year is entitled to a maximum leave period of 20 weeks. An employee cannot exceed 12 weeks for either Medical or Family Leave, or more than 20 weeks combined in a Benefit Year. The leave must be certified by the University’s Leave Administrator, which will determine the amount of time allowed. Time may be taken in a solid block or intermittently, as determined by the documentation received by the University’s Leave Administrator.

This leave runs concurrently with leave taken for the same purpose under Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and/or Minnesota Pregnancy and Parenting Leave (MPPL), and other paid and unpaid leaves as allowed. University leave taken counts against the maximum available leave time taken for the same purpose under a MN Paid Leave.

In most circumstances the amount received during a MN Paid Leave cannot exceed 100% of wages.

A claim for benefits must be based on a single Qualifying Event of at least seven calendar days, except in the case of Bonding Leave.

Benefit Eligibility

While on MN Paid Leave, the Eligible Employee’s benefits will continue under the same terms as when they were working.

Protections of MN Paid Leave

After 90 days of employment with the University, an employee taking MN Paid Leave will be returned to the same or an Equivalent Position. The employee is not guaranteed the actual position they held prior to the leave.

Notice Required

Employees must provide at least 30 days advance notice if the need for the leave is foreseeable. Otherwise, the employee must give notice as soon as reasonably possible.

Supplemental Benefits

An employee may use the following paid benefits to receive up to the employee’s full salary continuation during MN Paid Leave:

• Vacation time;
• Sick time;
• Faculty, Academic Professional and Administrative Employees Medical Leave and Academic Disability Program (Self);
• Faculty, Academic Professional and Administrative Employees Medical Leave (Family);
• Minnesota Earned Sick and Safe time (ESST); 
• Parental Leave.

The use of supplemental benefits is often referred to as “topping off”. In most circumstances the amount received during a MN Paid Leave cannot exceed 100% of wages.