Minnesota
Minnesota Paid Family and Medical Leave (MN PFML)
Minnesota Paid Family and Medical Leave (MN PFML)
Minnesota now has a mandated paid family and medical leave program in Minnesota (MN PFML). Both benefit payments and contributions to the program will begin on January 1, 2026. This law allows for private plans. The insurance commission may establish rules to set standards for policies and other form submissions, which will be needed to understand the coordination of the new PFML benefits.
Absence reasons:
MN PFML allows employees to take leave for:
- Medical leave for an employee’s own serious health condition
- Bonding with a child during the first year after the birth, adoption, or placement of the child
- Caring for a family member with a serious health condition
- Qualifying exigency leave
- Safety leaves due to domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking of the employee or the employee’s covered family member
Coverage Options: Employers can participate in the state-run program, or they can self-insure, or fully insure a private plan. Paid family and paid medical leaves can be administered separately and MetLife will provide fully insured and self-insured coverage options.
Job Protection: The MN PFML coverage is job protected once the employee has worked 90 days for their employer. When applicable, a worker should request leave under the Federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) concurrently.
Benefits:
- 12 weeks for family leave
- 12 weeks for own serious health condition
- No more than 20 weeks total/year for combined family and medical leave
- Maximum weekly benefit is equal to the state’s average weekly wage
Contributions: Employers must pay quarterly premiums for MN PFML on the taxable wages of each employee beginning January 1, 2026. Contributions can be split 50/50 between the employee and the employer through payroll deduction, or the employer can choose to fund on behalf of their workforce.
- PFML – 0.7% capped at the taxable wage base
- PML only – 0.4%
- PFL only – 0.3%
- Small employers are defined with less than 30 employees and will have a small business wage exclusion to lower the premiums due.
- The state will adjust rates beginning January 1, 2027, and by July 31 of each year thereafter.
Key Dates:
January 1, 2026: Benefit payments and contributions begin
As of May 30, 2024
What's new with MN PFML?
Check out this short video for more information.