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What is Minnesota Paid Family Medical Leave?
Minnesota Paid Family and Medical Leave (MN PFML) is a statewide program, effective January 1, 2026, that allows eligible employees to take paid time away from work for certain family, medical, or safety-related reasons. The program is funded by contributions from both employers and employees.
Paid leave benefits and claims are administered directly by the State of Minnesota.
Who is eligible?
Most Minnesota W-2 employees (full-time, part-time, or seasonal) may be eligible for PFML benefits if they:
- Earned at least $3,900 in Minnesota wages in the previous year, and
- Have a qualifying reason for leave under the program.
Eligibility is determined by the Minnesota Paid Leave program when an employee applies for benefits.
For more or who is eligible, visit the MN Paid Leave site.
How does it work?
Starting on January 1, 2026, qualified employees can take paid leave for certain family, medical, or safety-related situations. Leave may run concurrently with other federal or state leave laws, depending on the circumstances.
While the exact amount of leave and benefit amounts are determined by the state, here is a general overview:
Available leave
Employees may take a combination of family and/or medical leave, with a maximum of 20 weeks per benefit year, depending on the qualifying reason.
Examples of qualifying reasons:
- Caring for your own serious health condition
- Caring for a family member with a serious health condition
- Bonding with a new child (birth, adoption, or foster placement)
- Certain safety needs related to domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking
- Certain military-connected events
Benefit amount
While on approved PFML leave, employees may receive 55% to 90% of their regular wages. The state calculates the exact amount based on the employee’s earnings.
For more details on how eligibility, leave, and benefits work, visit the Minnesota Paid Leave site.
How do my employees file a claim to receive benefits?
- Visit the Minnesota Paid Leave portal.
- Submit their application and any required documentation.
- The State of Minnesota will review the claim, determine eligibility, and pay benefits directly to the employee.
Any employer information requested in the application should reflect the employee’s worksite employer, not Justworks.
If employees have questions, they can contact the Minnesota Paid Leave Contact Center by phone, 651-556-7777.
What does my company need to do?
Compliance posters
Minnesota requires employers to display the official PFML workplace poster in a place where all employees can easily see it. A poster must be available in English and in any language spoken by five or more employees at the worksite.
For remote employees, employers must provide the poster electronically.
Download the required poster here.
Provide employee notices
The state of Minnesota requires employers to provide employees with an individual notice in their primary language. Employers must also obtain and record employee acknowledgement of receipt of the notice, evidencing employees understand their rights under the new state law.
Justworks will send the required PFML notifications to your Minnesota employees and collect acknowledgment records on your behalf.
If you would like to provide your own notice and keep your own records, we have uploaded a sample notice titled “Minnesota Sample Notice To Employees” in your Compliance Document Center.
You can find it in Justworks under:
HR → Documents → Compliance Documents
Filing premiums with the state
Justworks will handle PFML reporting and premium payments with the State of Minnesota on your behalf through the existing Minnesota Unemployment portal. You do not need to file PFML premiums directly with the state.
Disclaimer
This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for accounting, legal or tax advice. If you have any legal or tax questions regarding this content or related issues, then you should consult with your professional legal or tax advisor.