Minnesota businesses are racing to learn all there is to know about Minnesota Paid Leave which takes effect January 1.
The new law offers payments and job protections to people who need time away form work for their own health, or to care for a family member.
Justin Terch with the Minnesota Society of Human Resources Professionals says for some businesses, challenges lie ahead.
"You know, (it) has the potential to create a critical staffing problem, and services that the public desperately needs and expects," says Terch. "And so there's just a lot of concern about how it'll work and how it'll be implemented. And unfortunately, at this point, it is what it is, so we're just going to have to grit our teeth and figure out how to get through it."
Terch tells the WCCO Morning News with Vineeta Sawkar many small businesses and organizations aren't aware that the new law even applies to them.
"But I think most of the companies that we're seeing, you know, we have about a third of them we'll say, that are totally on top of it," says Terch. A third that are where it's going on, but not the specifics. And we still have a third, especially smaller organizations, that are really surprised that it even applies to them with only two or three employees."
Funded by payroll premiums split between employers and employees, the Minnesota Paid Family Leave program offers up to 20 total weeks of leave for qualifying events like welcoming a new child, caring for a family member, or dealing with a serious health issue.
Payments are made by the state, and the application requires certification from a healthcare provider.
Funding
A payroll premium is split between employers and employees to fund the program.
Benefit Year
Your benefit year begins the first day you take leave and is separate from the calendar year.
Intermittent Leave
Employees can take leave in small increments (e.g., one minute to one day) as long as it's less than 480 hours in a benefit year.
Job Protection
The program includes job protection, meaning your employer must hold your job while you are on approved leave.