Takeaways
Articles About Minnesota Labor and Employment Law.
Countdown to 2026: Essential Paid Leave, Earned Sick and Safe Time Updates for Minnesota Employers
Takeaways
Minnesota’s Paid Leave Law Takes Effect January 1, 2026: 5 Steps for Employers to Prepare
On January 1, 2026, Minnesota’s Paid Leave law will take effect, providing qualified employees with up to twelve weeks of paid medical leave, twelve weeks of paid family leave, and employees who need both family and medical leave in a single benefit year may qualify for up to twenty weeks.
Minnesota Provides Guidance on 2026 Meal and Work Break Amendments
The January 1, 2026, changes to Minnesota’s meal and rest break laws require employers to provide fifteen-minute breaks and a thirty-minute meal break depending on hours worked. However, the vague amendments left more questions than answers. The questions raised in our July 2025 article were submitted to the state, and
Minnesota Restrictive Covenants Update: What Constitutes Solicitation?
The Minnesota Legislature’s ban on new noncompetition agreements in 2023 has caused the state’s employers to rely more heavily on other legal means to protect their businesses from unfair competition by departing employees. In particular, the ban has forced Minnesota businesses to focus more on nonsolicitation agreements, i.e., agreements that
Minnesota, Iowa Modify Employer Drug Testing Requirements
Minnesota, Iowa Modify Employer Drug Testing Requirements
Minnesota and Iowa have longstanding drug testing laws that place them among the more difficult states for employer compliance. This year, both states modified their laws in ways that require employers to reevaluate their current practices and consider changes.
Minnesota strengthens employment protections for
The Latest Changes to Minnesota’s Earned Sick and Safe Time Statute
Takeaways: Minnesota’s Earned Sick and Safe Time law (ESST) saw a few significant amendments during the special legislative session. The main changes
Minnesota Mandates Meal and Work Breaks Starting January 1, 2026—With Automatic Penalties
Starting January 1, 2026, Minnesota employers must allow expanded breaks to all employees in Minnesota. Currently, employers are only required to provide “sufficient time to eat a meal” every eight hours of work, and “adequate time from work” to use the nearest restroom every four hours. This will change to
Minnesota’s Paid Leave Law Is Final: Here’s How Employers Can Prepare Now
The state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Law survived the legislative session with minimal change and the Department of Employment and Economic Development published its final rules on 06.16.25.
Minnesota Employment Legislative Update 2025, Part IV: Special Session Roundup
On June 14, 2026, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed into law legislation passed during a one-day legislative special session that includes new employment laws or amends existing employment laws. The legislation—Senate File (SF) 17 / House File (HF) 15—clarifies requirements for meal and rest breaks, modifies the powers of the
Summer Heat Wave of Paid Leave Amendments Continues in Minnesota
Summer Heat Wave of Paid Leave Amendments Continues in Minnesota
On June 14, 2025, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed SF 17, the state’s omnibus jobs and workforce bill. The omnibus bill amends both the state’s paid sick leave law and the forthcoming paid family medical leave program (Minnesota Paid Leave) in
Local Politics Makes a Big Splash: Amendments to Minneapolis Civil Rights Ordinance Provide Further Protection
On May 1, 2025, the Minneapolis City Council voted to expand civil rights protections, effective August 1, 2025. Under the updated ordinance (Ordinance No. 2025-022), it will be illegal for employers in Minneapolis to discriminate based on a person’s height, weight, criminal record or history (now referred to as “justice-impacted
Minnesota Contractors’ Workforce Compliance Requirements, Part III: Workforce Certificate Audits
The Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR) recently made updates to several documents and definitions for Minnesota government contractors. This is the third article in a series focused on the compliance responsibilities of Minnesota contractors holding workforce certificates that the MDHR issued. The first part in the series covered the
New Minnesota Meal and Rest Break Requirements
New Minnesota Meal and Rest Break Requirements
On June 14, 2025, Minnesota’s governor signed an omnibus bill, SF 17, which includes amendments to the state’s meal and rest break requirements found at Minnesota Statute Sections 177.253 and 177.254.
tgelbman@littler.com Wed, 06/18/2025 – 10:05
Minnesota Contractors’ Workforce Compliance Requirements, Part II: Equal Pay Certificates
The Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR) recently updated several documents on its website for Minnesota government contractors. This is the second article in a series focused on the compliance responsibilities of Minnesota contractors holding workforce certificates that the MDHR issued. The first part in the series covered the workforce