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County adopts policy to implement Minnesota paid leave law, will participate in state plan
Summary
Blue Earth County voted to adopt a local policy implementing Minnesota's paid family and medical leave law beginning in 2026 and to participate in the state plan; staff clarified notification requirements, intermittent leave limits and benefit supplementation with accrued county leave.
Blue Earth County's human resources director presented a policy on Dec. 2 to implement Minnesota's paid family and medical leave law, which takes effect in 2026. Staff said the county will participate in the state plan rather than establish an employer‑run equivalent, meaning the state will administer eligibility, benefit calculations and claims, while the county clarifies employer‑specific parameters.
Staff described key policy points: eligible employees may receive a percentage of wages for up to 12 weeks of medical leave and 12 weeks of family leave with a combined maximum of 20 weeks per year; intermittent leave is allowed up to 480 hours after which leave must be continuous; employees may supplement state benefits with accrued county leave to maintain normal income; the county will maintain health insurance during leave and reinstate employees upon return; and anti‑retaliation protections are included.
Commissioners asked for clarification about when the employer is notified and staff explained that recent legislative changes require employees to notify their employer as part of the application and that the state will verify notification with employers during the process. The board moved, seconded and approved the policy by voice vote.
