St. Paul, Minn. - In the first six months of successful operations, about 75,000 Minnesotans have been approved to receive benefit payments under the state's new Paid Leave program, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Paid Leave offers payments and job protections to Minnesota workers who need time to bond with a child, care for their own health or safety, or take care of a family member.

"The first six months of Paid Leave demonstrate that the program is operating smoothly and delivering on its promise," said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek. "Strong participation and performance metrics show Minnesotans are using Paid Leave when they need it most. This is an important milestone, and we're encouraged by the impact we're already seeing."  

Signed into law by Governor Walz in 2023, Minnesota's Paid Leave program reflects the administration's commitment to making our state the best place in the nation to raise a family. Under the new law, almost all Minnesota workers are now eligible to take paid, protected time off when they experience a qualifying event like welcoming a child, managing their own medical condition, or caring for a family member. While some state paid leave programs have struggled to reach all populations, early data suggest that those taking leave in Minnesota are broadly representative of the state's workforce. Some examples include:

• 54% of applicants make less than $78,000 a year
• 58% of applicants are under the age of 40
• 44% of applicants live outside the 7-county Twin Cities metropolitan area
• 64% of applicants are women
• Over 38,000 approved Bonding Leave applications

Prior to Paid Leave, many Minnesotans did not have access to paid family or medical leave. Nationally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics  notes that only 27 percent of workers have access to paid family leave. Lower-wage workers, BIPOC parents, and people in rural areas were among those often missed. Coverage also varied widely, including the types of leave offered, amount of leave available and the level of wage replacement.

Nearly $600 million has been paid directly to Minnesotans on approved leave, with an average weekly payment of $1,083. The payments come from a $668 million benefit account established when the Paid Leave law was enacted in 2023, over $300 million in employer and worker premiums collected in the first quarter of Paid Leave, and around $70 million in savings from the efficient launch of the Paid Leave program.

"Paid Leave is committed to continuous improvement, which began long before the program officially launched and continues through strong partnerships with employers, health care providers and community organizations," said DEED Deputy Commissioner Evan Rowe. "With regular input and collaboration, we have added important tools to make Paid Leave easier for employers to implement, for providers to certify, and for Minnesotans to access."

Some of those new resources include a guide for applicants who need leave soon but might not know where to start, and a series of videos to help Minnesota employers and families understand what Paid Leave can make possible in their lives and their businesses.

Minnesota Paid Leave is a division of DEED. Visit the website to learn more or to apply.