Minnesotans for Paid Family and Medical Leave

We all have a story, and everyone needs paid family and medical leave.

Because no one should have to choose between their job and their health or family.

About Us

A paid family and medical leave insurance program is a fair and common-sense solution

Minnesotans believe in caring for one another. Yet the vast majority of Minnesotans don’t have access to paid family & medical leave benefits. This means every day, Minnesotans face impossible choices between losing a paycheck or caring for a new child, an aging loved one, or themselves.

It’s time for a common-sense solution. Our current system is costly to workers, families, businesses, and our economy. Paid Family and Medical Leave is overwhelmingly popular across party lines and has already passed in eleven other states. By passing Paid Family and Medical Leave we can begin to solve our caregiving crisis while leveling the playing field for all Minnesotans.

The Legislation

How it Works

The Minnesotans for Paid Family & Medical Leave Coalition supports a state-administered paid leave insurance program, where everyone contributes and everyone benefits. Paid Family & Medical Leave is for events lasting longer than 7 days, such as bonding with a new baby, recovering from a serious injury, or caring for a loved one facing their final weeks.

The Paid Family & Medical Leave Act will

Provide up to 12 weeks of partial wage replacement for medical leave (including pregnancy), so Minnesotans can take care of themselves.

Keep costs low for all by creating a large statewide risk pool and equally share costs between employers and employees, with both contributing 35 cents per $100 of employee earnings. For a worker earning $1,000 a week this would mean $3.50.

Provide up to 12 weeks partial wage replacement for family leave, so Minnesotans can take care of themselves and their families.

Build on Minnesota’s leading Unemployment Insurance administration under the Department of Employment and Economic Development, to ensure program stability for employees, employers, and the state.

Provide a progressive wage replacement at 55%-90% (average of 66%) of an employee’s salary, while protecting job and healthcare benefits.

The Benefits of Paid Family & Medical Leave

For employees

For employers

For all Minnesotans

Organizational Members:

“Our coalition of health, faith, business, labor, and community groups is fighting for paid leave for every Minnesotan. This effort is co-chaired by Children’s Defense Fund-Minnesota, ISAIAH, and the Minnesota AFL-CIO.”

  • AARP Minnesota
  • AFSCME Council 5
  • AFSCME Council 65
  • Alzheimer’s Association
  • American Academy of Pediatrics, MN Chapter
  • American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN)
  • American Heart Association
  • Awood
  • BMWED of IBT
  • Center for Economic Inclusion
  • Children’s Defense Fund
  • Committee to Protect Health Care
  • COPAL MN
  • CTUL
  • CWA
  • DFL
  • East Central Area Labor Council
  • Education Minnesota
  • Elders for Infants
  • Faith in Minnesota
  • Family Tree Clinic
  • Gender Justice
  • Greater Minnesota Worker Center
  • Hispanic Solutions Group
  • Impact Project
  • ISAIAH
  • Jewish Community Action
  • Land Stewardship Project
  • Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
  • LIUNA Minnesota & North Dakota
  • Local Progress MN
  • Machinists Union District Lodge 77
  • Main Street Alliance
  • MAPE
  • Midwest Doulas
  • Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation
  • Minnesota Breastfeeding Coalition
  • Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
  • Minnesota Doctors for Health Equity
  • Minnesota Prenatal to 3 Coalition
  • Minnesota Public Health Association
  • Minnesota AFL-CIO
  • MN Doctors for Health Equity
  • Minnesota Nurses Association
  • MIRAC
  • National Multiple Sclerosis Society of Minnesota
  • North East Area Labor Council
  • North Star Prosperity
  • OPEIU Local 12
  • Open Access Connections
  • OutFront Minnesota
  • Rainbow Health
  • Saint Paul Regional Labor Federation
  • SEIU State Council
  • Southeast MN Area Labor Council
  • Simpson Housing
  • Superior Small Batch
  • TakeAction Minnesota
  • Thriver LLC
  • UFCW 1155
  • UFCW 1189
  • UFCW 663
  • UNITE HERE Local 17
  • Violence Free MN
  • Vital Aging Network
  • West Area Labor Council
  • Women’s Foundation of Minnesota
  • Workutopia Consulting
  • Working America
  • YWCA Minneapolis

Join the coalition!

Fill out our coalition sign-up form.