Minnesota Paid Leave takes effect beginning January 1, 2026. It is important that you gain awareness about this program, your responsibilities as an employer and other important information.
This document is intended as a starting point for you including information about what the program is, how it will be paid for and how it will be administered.
In addition to a description, we have included helpful links from the State of Minnesota which we encourage you to review. Also, the State of Minnesota offers employers email updates which we encourage you to sign up for. Paid Leave updates for employers
What is Minnesota Paid Leave?
Minnesota Paid Leave is a law that goes into effect on 1/1/2026 that is designed to ensure Minnesotans can take the time they need to be there for some of life’s most important moments – like welcoming a child, recovering from serious illness or caring for a loved one.
Minnesota Paid Leave includes both Medical Leave and Family Leave.
The program will be administered through the Minnesota Department of Unemployment Insurance (MNUI) and the newly created Minnesota Paid Leave Department. The program will be funded by premiums collected by the state from employers.
Beginning in 2026, employers will submit quarterly Paid Leave premiums and report quarterly wages through Minnesota UI, much in the same way most employers pay and report already for Unemployment Insurance. A portion of the premium will be the responsibility of the employer and a portion will be the responsibility of employees.
In addition to these requirements, employers will need to keep track of and administer Paid Leave for employees when they become eligible. Employers are also responsible for educating their employes about the program and their rights.
2026 Premium Cost
The premium for 2026 includes an Employee Premium and an Employer Premium. Premiums will be collected by the state up to the same wage levels as OASDI for Social Security.
For employers with more than thirty employees, the minimum employer premium will be 0.44%. For employers with thirty or fewer employees, the minimum employer premium will be 0.22%. Note that small employers paying average WEEKLY wages above $2,134.00 will be subject to the 0.44% premium rate.
For all employees, the maximum Paid Leave premium rate is 0.44%. Employers, at their discretion, may elect to cover some or all of this premium on behalf of their employees.
Each subsequent year, no later than July 31, the State of Minnesota will announce any rate changes for the following year.
What you need to do right now
There are certain steps Minnesota employers must take.
As soon as possible, employers should log in to their Minnesota UI account and assign at least one person to serve as Paid Leave Administrator for their organization. This person (or people) will be the company’s point of contact for Minnesota Paid Leave. Employer login
Then your authorized Paid Leave Administrator(s) will log into the Paid Leave Website to establish a Paid Leave Account for your organization. This will allow your organization to track and manage Paid Leave requests made by your employees. Minnesota Paid Leave |Paid Leave
Minnesota Paid Leave Employee Coverage
Please click the link from the State of Minnesota to learn more about Paid Leave coverage available for you and your employees.
Individuals and families / Minnesota Paid Leave
Private Paid Leave Option
Employers also have the option to pursue private Paid Leave coverage so long as the benefits and employee cost are the same or superior to the state Paid Leave program. You should contact your benefit broker or administrator to learn more about this option if you
are interested.
Press Gold Group and Paid Leave
As your partner, Press Gold Group will provide ongoing services related to Paid Leave. If you utilize the State of Minnesota Paid Leave program, we will provide necessary wage reports to the State, collect and disburse premium payments quarterly and adjust rates annually as needed among other services. As Year End approaches, Press Gold Group will set the appropriate Employer Withdrawals and Employee deductions to meet each organization’s premium responsibilities.
As a default, Press Gold Group will set each clients’ Employer contribution at the minimum Employer level as established by the State (0.44% or 0.22% in 2026 based on size) and the Employee deduction at the Employee maximum (0.44% in 2026).
If your organization chooses to pursue private paid leave coverage or if your organization chooses to cover part or all of the Employee premium share, you will need to communicate that to us in writing well ahead of January 1, 2026.
Over the next few weeks, Press Gold Group will provide our clients with additional information as well as a form for you to complete regarding your acceptance of the default settings or any changes you would like to make for Minnesota Paid Leave.
Below are some helpful links for more information.
Individuals and families / Minnesota Paid Leave -Guidelines for employees to use MN PFL
Paid Leave updates for employers – Employer information
Minnesota Paid Leave – Poster
Employer resource toolkit / Minnesota Paid Leave – Employer information
Employers: your role and responsibilities / Minnesota Paid Leave – Employer information
Employer accounts / Minnesota Paid Leave – How to set up administrators
Employer login – MN Unemployment login site
Minnesota Paid Leave | Paid Leave – Paid Leave Administrator login
Premium rate and contributions / Minnesota Paid Leave – Employer Premium Estimator
Taxes and Paid Leave – Tax information
