Paid Leave is a new program launching for Minnesotans in 2026. It provides paid time off when...

• your own serious health condition prevents you from working,

• you need to provide care for a family member with a serious health condition,

• you are bonding with a new baby or child in your family,

• you need time off from work to navigate a personal safety issue,

• you need to support a family member in the military deploying overseas,

• and more.

For small business owners and self-employed folks, this law would provide a sustainable, affordable, and accessible option to access medical or family leave for themselves or offer it to their employees. This will not only serve as a boon for the community, but it also offers small businesses a leg up against large corporations who can afford to offer their own plan. Interested in learning more about what our members have to say? Check out our concept brief here.

For more detailed information on this program for employers, you can visit DEED's website here.