Minnesota’s paid leave law: What you need to know about the 2026 launch
On the first day of 2026, Minnesota will introduce a new benefit for most workers in the state.
It’s a paid family and medical leave program that guarantees access to time off to bond with a new child, recuperate from a major medical issue or care for an ill family member. The program replaces a portion of someone’s wage for a leave that can span weeks.
MPR News guest host Brian Bakst (center) talks with Justin Terch (left), president of the Minnesota State Council of the Society of Human Resource Management and Greg Norfleet (right), the Paid Leave director for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development at Minnesota Public Radio headquarters on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025.
Nikhil Kumaran | MPR News
Guests:
- Dana Ferguson is a political reporter for MPR News.
- Greg Norfleet is the Paid Leave director for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, also known as DEED.
- Justin Terch is a consultant with Terch and Associates, a human resources consulting firm. He is also president of the Minnesota State Council of the Society of Human Resource Management and he serves on the board of Essentia Health, a Duluth-based health care system that operates mainly in rural areas in the upper Midwest.
