InterObservers.

Minnesota paid sick leave law

The short answer

Minnesota earned sick and safe time (ESST): employees accrue at least one hour of paid ESST for every 30 hours worked. (Minn. Stat. § 181.9446) Unused ESST carries over, but the total accrued balance may be capped at 80 hours (unless the employer agrees to more). (Minn. Stat. § 181.9446) Employers may cap annual ESST accrual at 48 hours a year (more if the employer agrees). (Minn. Stat. § 181.9446)

Last verified Sep 24, 2026 · How we verify every rule

General information, not legal advice. This page is for general information only and isn’t legal, financial or tax advice. Laws vary by state and change; check the official source or talk to a qualified professional about your situation. Every rule on this page links to its official source.

Do you have to give paid sick leave?Yes, statewideVerified Sep 24, 2026 · 2 official sources

  • Accrual: Minnesota earned sick and safe time (ESST): employees accrue at least one hour of paid ESST for every 30 hours worked. (Minn. Stat. § 181.9446)

    “(a) An employee accrues a minimum of one hour of earned sick and safe time for every 30 hours worked up to a maximum of 48 hours of earned sick and safe time in a year.”

    “An employee earns one hour of sick and safe time for every 30 hours worked and can earn a maximum of 48 hours each year unless the employer agrees to a higher amount.”

    Minnesota DLI, Earned sick and safe time (ESST) · dli.mn.gov

    revisor.mn.gov · dli.mn.gov · verified Sep 24, 2026 · 2 official sources

  • Accrued balance cap: Unused ESST carries over, but the total accrued balance may be capped at 80 hours (unless the employer agrees to more). (Minn. Stat. § 181.9446)

    “The total amount of accrued but unused earned sick and safe time for an employee must not exceed 80 hours at any time, unless an employer agrees to a higher amount.”

    “Employers must allow each employee to accrue up to at least 48 hours a year, carried over from year to year, until an 80-hour maximum accrual is reached.”

    Minnesota DLI, FAQs: Earned sick and safe time (ESST) · dli.mn.gov

    revisor.mn.gov · dli.mn.gov · verified Sep 24, 2026 · 2 official sources

  • Annual cap: Employers may cap annual ESST accrual at 48 hours a year (more if the employer agrees). (Minn. Stat. § 181.9446)

    “Employees may not accrue more than 48 hours of earned sick and safe time in a year unless the employer agrees to a higher amount.”

    “An employee earns one hour of sick and safe time for every 30 hours worked and can earn a maximum of 48 hours each year unless the employer agrees to a higher amount.”

    Minnesota DLI, Earned sick and safe time (ESST) · dli.mn.gov

    revisor.mn.gov · dli.mn.gov · verified Sep 24, 2026 · 2 official sources

  • Effective date: Minnesota's ESST law took effect "Jan. 1, 2024". (Minnesota DLI, FAQs: Earned sick and safe time (ESST))

    “Minnesota’s earned sick and safe time (ESST) law has been in effect since Jan. 1, 2024.”

    Minnesota DLI, FAQs: Earned sick and safe time (ESST) · dli.mn.gov

    “Since Jan. 1, 2024, DLI has worked to ensure awareness of and compliance with Minnesota’s ESST law through”

    Minnesota DLI, ESST annual report (February 2026) · dli.mn.gov

    dli.mn.gov · dli.mn.gov · verified Sep 24, 2026 · 2 official sources

  • Employee eligibility: Covered employees are those anticipated to work at least 80 hours a year for an employer in Minnesota (not independent contractors); part-time, seasonal and temporary employees are included. (Minnesota DLI, FAQs: Earned sick and safe time (ESST))

    “An employee is anyone who an employer anticipates works at least 80 hours in a year for an employer in Minnesota but does not include independent contractors. Part-time, seasonal and temporary employees are covered under the law.”

    Minnesota DLI, FAQs: Earned sick and safe time (ESST) · dli.mn.gov

    “are anticipated to work at least 80 hours in a year for an employer in Minnesota; and”

    Minnesota DLI, Earned sick and safe time (ESST) · dli.mn.gov

    dli.mn.gov · dli.mn.gov · verified Sep 24, 2026 · 2 official sources

  • Employer coverage: Applies to every employer with one or more employees in Minnesota (the federal government excluded); ESST is paid leave for all covered employers. (Minn. Stat. § 181.9445, subd. 6)

    “"Employer" means a person who has one or more employees.”

    “Minnesota law requires employers to provide earned sick and safe time (ESST), a type of paid leave, to workers in the state.”

    Minnesota DLI, Earned sick and safe time (ESST) · dli.mn.gov

    revisor.mn.gov · dli.mn.gov · verified Sep 24, 2026 · 2 official sources

What it means for an employer

  1. Put your sick leave policy in writing: accrual rate, yearly cap, carryover and how to request leave.
  2. Track accrued and used hours for each employee in payroll.
  3. Check the verified rules above for the employer size and employees covered.

The federal default

“There is currently no federal law guaranteeing access to paid sick leave, although many states and localities have passed paid sick leave laws.”

U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau: Paid leave · dol.gov

State rules can add to the federal default. The Minnesota rules above are the ones we verified; for anything not covered, ask the state labor office.

Paid sick leave: Minnesota and its neighbors

StatePaid sick leave
MinnesotaYes, statewide
North DakotaNot verified
South DakotaNot verified
IowaNo statewide law
WisconsinNo statewide law

Only verified rules are shown. "Not verified" means we have not checked that state's rule yet; open its rulebook for the official source.

Minnesota employer rulebookEvery verified rule for the statePaid sick leave laws by stateOne row per state, with sources

Questions about Minnesota paid sick leave law

Do you have to give paid sick leave in Minnesota?

Accrual: Minnesota earned sick and safe time (ESST): employees accrue at least one hour of paid ESST for every 30 hours worked. (Minn. Stat. § 181.9446) Accrued balance cap: Unused ESST carries over, but the total accrued balance may be capped at 80 hours (unless the employer agrees to more). (Minn. Stat. § 181.9446) Annual cap: Employers may cap annual ESST accrual at 48 hours a year (more if the employer agrees). (Minn. Stat. § 181.9446) Effective date: Minnesota's ESST law took effect "Jan. 1, 2024". (Minnesota DLI, FAQs: Earned sick and safe time (ESST)) Employee eligibility: Covered employees are those anticipated to work at least 80 hours a year for an employer in Minnesota (not independent contractors); part-time, seasonal and temporary employees are included. (Minnesota DLI, FAQs: Earned sick and safe time (ESST)) Employer coverage: Applies to every employer with one or more employees in Minnesota (the federal government excluded); ESST is paid leave for all covered employers. (Minn. Stat. § 181.9445, subd. 6)

Sources (6)

Checked Sep 24, 2026 · How we verify every rule · Report an error