Minnesota Labor Laws

Minnesota Sick Leave Law: Accrual, Caps and Who Is Covered — Best Proven Guide (2026)

By Oleg Kachko · Updated October 8, 2026
✓ Verified October 2026

The Minnesota sick leave law gives you 1 hour for every 30 hours worked, capped at 48 hours of accrual a year and an 80-hour bank (one source prints 40 — the statute says 48/80), for all employers. This guide gives the exact minnesota sick leave law rule with the date we verified it, the statute, and what to do next.

Rules verified against Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Labor Standards on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Labor Standards or an attorney before you rely on it.

Minnesota Sick Leave Law at a Glance

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Law Yes — paid sick leave
Accrual 1 hour for every 30 hours worked
Annual cap 48 hours of accrual a year and an 80-hour bank (one source prints 40 — the statute says 48/80)
Who is covered All employers
Statute Minn. Stat. 181.9445 to 181.9448 (Earned Sick and Safe Time)
In effect since January 1, 2024

Minnesota Sick Leave Law: The Rule

1 hour for every 30 hours worked. 48 hours of accrual a year and an 80-hour bank (one source prints 40 — the statute says 48/80). Covered: all employers. The statute is Minn. Stat. 181.9445 to 181.9448 (Earned Sick and Safe Time), in effect since January 1, 2024.

⚠ Minnesota sick leave law: 1 hour for every 30 hours worked; 48 hours of accrual a year and an 80-hour bank (one source prints 40 — the statute says 48/80). In effect since January 1, 2024.

What Minnesota Sick Leave Law Lets You Use Leave For

Minnesota’s Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) law lets a worker use leave for their own physical or mental illness, injury, health condition, diagnosis, treatment or preventive care, or to care for a family member with the same needs. Safe leave covers absences related to domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking of the worker or a family member.

Leave also covers a workplace closure due to weather or a public emergency, a family member’s school or care facility closing, a health authority order tied to exposure to a communicable disease, and attending a family member’s funeral or handling legal or financial matters after their death.

Minnesota Sick Leave Law at a Glance

Rules verified against Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Labor Standards on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Labor Standards or an attorney before you rely on it. The statute row is where to check it yourself.

Law Yes — paid sick leave
Accrual 1 hour for every 30 hours worked
Annual cap 48 hours of accrual a year and an 80-hour bank (one source prints 40 — the statute says 48/80)
Who is covered All employers
Statute Minn. Stat. 181.9445 to 181.9448 (Earned Sick and Safe Time)
In effect since January 1, 2024

Accrual, Caps and Carryover Under Minnesota Sick Leave Law

1 hour for every 30 hours worked; 48 hours of accrual a year and an 80-hour bank (one source prints 40 — the statute says 48/80). When the need is foreseeable, an employer may require advance notice set by its written policy; when it is not foreseeable, the worker generally needs to give notice as soon as practicable.

An employer may ask for reasonable documentation only after an absence runs longer than the statute’s consecutive-scheduled-workday threshold. It cannot require details about the nature of the illness, and for safe leave a written statement from the worker is generally enough.

The leave is paid at your regular rate for the covered employers above; smaller employers in some states must give the time unpaid.

Minnesota Sick Leave Law and Retaliation

Minnesota law prohibits an employer from retaliating against a worker for requesting or using earned sick and safe time, including counting protected leave as an absence under an attendance policy that can lead to discipline. A worker who believes they were punished for using leave may file a complaint with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. Confirm the details with the agency.

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Local Rules and Minnesota Sick Leave Law

Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington and Duluth have their own sick and safe time ordinances. Workers in those cities are generally covered by whichever rule (city or state) is more generous, and Minneapolis and St. Paul enforce their ordinances through their own city labor standards offices.

Other Minnesota Sick Leave Law Rules to Know

An employer cannot require a worker to find a replacement as a condition of using ESST. Coverage is broad and generally includes part-time and temporary workers. Paid family and medical leave is handled separately, through the Minnesota Paid Leave program.

Denied the leave you earned? The labor department enforces the sick-leave law for free.

Contact Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Labor Standards

Minnesota — the bottom line

  • The minnesota sick leave law gives 1 hour for every 30 hours worked.
  • Under the minnesota sick leave law the cap is 48 hours of accrual a year and an 80-hour bank (one source prints 40 — the statute says 48/80).
  • The minnesota sick leave law protects you from retaliation for using the leave.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is paid sick leave required in Minnesota?

Yes. 1 hour for every 30 hours worked.

How much sick leave do I get under Minnesota sick leave law?

48 hours of accrual a year and an 80-hour bank (one source prints 40 — the statute says 48/80).

Which employers are covered by the Minnesota sick leave law?

All employers.

Can I be fired for using sick leave in Minnesota?

Minnesota law prohibits an employer from retaliating against a worker for requesting or using earned sick and safe time, including counting protected leave as an absence under an attendance policy…

When did the Minnesota sick leave law take effect?

January 1, 2024.

Official Minnesota Sources & Resources

This minnesota sick leave law guide was last verified against official Minnesota sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.

More Minnesota Workplace Rights Guides

Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. My Unemployment Rights is an independent educational resource, not a government agency and not a law firm. Final-paycheck deadlines, penalties and non compete rules change — every figure here carries the date we verified it. Confirm the current rule with your state labor department or a licensed attorney before you act.

Hurt at work before you lost the job? See whether workers comp or unemployment applies at Workers Comp Explained. Denied unemployment because you cannot work? Social Security disability may be the right program - start at Disability Claim Info. Lost income and worried about rent? Know your rights before an eviction notice arrives at Tenant Rights Info.