Paid Leave Updates - May 2024

Legislative Update

A Paid Leave bill proposed by DEED has been passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor. The bill provides clarity around concepts critical to successful implementation. These are primarily technical edits, not changes to the fundamentals of the program.  

Some elements of the bill include:  

• Simplified approach to small employer premium rates  
• Annual adjustments to the premium rate based on actuarial studies 
• Improved guidance for insurers that plan to offer private plan products 
• More detail around the appeal process, building off of best practices from the Unemployment Insurance program
• Clarifications for how Paid Leave will work for individuals with multiple employers 
• Clearer rulemaking direction around safety leave applications and certification 
• Clearer guidance for technical concepts in the law.

We support these changes because they will make it easier to work together to deliver a successful program, and ultimately, will improve access and the overall experience for Minnesotans who need Paid Leave.

Hiring Spotlight

Consider joining our team! We are a start-up in state government and are actively hiring for leaders to deliver on the promises of the legislation.

• Senior Manager of Payment Operations (Apply by June 5, 2024)
• Senior Manager of Claims Administration (Apply by May 31, 2024)

You can always find our latest open roles on our website.

Rulemaking

The Minnesota Legislature delegated authority to DEED to make rules necessary to carry out the Paid Leave program. Rules provide clarity and uniformity to fill in details that were not put directly in the statutes.

To that end, the Paid Leave division is seeking comments related to private plan exemptions, employer rights and responsibilities, medical leave certification, and more. You can submit comments through the Office of Administrative Hearings website.

We’re also planning a series of listening sessions on specific rulemaking topics. We’ll add information about the sessions to our website and share updates in future newsletters.

Top Questions We're Hearing

• When are the first wage detail reports due?
  Every quarter, employers across the state are required to submit a report to the state that details wages paid to their employees. The first wage detail reports will be due on October 31, 2024, and will be based on wages paid between July 1, 2024, and September 30, 2024.
  
  
• My organization is covered by the Unemployment Insurance program, what do I need to do for wage detail reporting for Paid Leave?
  Nothing! Your UI employer account will be automatically converted into a joint UI/Paid Leave account to allow you to submit your wage detail report using the same process you use today.
  
  
• If an employer is not required to participate in the Unemployment Insurance program, is that employer also exempt from the Paid Leave program?
  The Paid Leave program is a new program distinct from the Unemployment Insurance program. The Paid Leave law does not exclude the same employers that are excluded for the purposes of Unemployment Insurance. For example, religious organizations, non-profits, and agricultural employers are all required to participate in the Paid Leave program.
  
  
• My organization is not covered by the Unemployment Insurance program, what do I need to do for wage detail reporting?
  During summer 2024, you will need to register for a Paid Leave Only account through the UI Online system.

For More Information

You can find FAQs for employers, individuals, and families on our webpage here. We refreshed the FAQs this month and expanded the available information, so if you haven’t looked recently, check it out!

Still Have Questions?

If you have a Paid Leave question that isn’t yet answered on our website, please submit your question here.