New and coming workplace laws -- plus highlights from statewide outreach



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Wage and Hour Bulletin

"October 2025"

Workplace Rights Week 2025:  Highlights and impact 

Workplace Rights Week visit

During Workplace Rights Week (Sept. 21-27), the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) visited more than 1,470 businesses across Minnesota to share vital information about workplace rights and responsibilities. Our outreach included 36 cities across Minnesota, representing 16 counties.

DLI's Labor Standards Division hosted webinars about workplace laws for small-business owners, as well as a Spanish-language webinar regarding workers' rights. DLI's Minnesota OSHA and the Workers' Compensation and Apprenticeship divisions also hosted webinars to promote safe, fair and equitable workplaces.

New partnerships with local libraries, chambers of commerce and CareerForce offices helped expand our reach and connect with more Minnesotans.

We thank our partners, including the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General, the Minnesota departments of Human Rights, Human Services, and Employment and Economic Development, the U.S. Department of Labor and Unidos MN.

Learn more about Workplace Rights Week at dli.mn.gov/rights-week [ [link removed] ].  



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Minimum-wage rates for 2026

Effective Jan. 1, 2026:


* The state minimum wage is $11.41 an hour.

* The training wage (for workers under 20 during first 90 days) is $9.31 an hour.

*Learn more* 


* State minimum wage [ [link removed] ] 

* St. Paul minimum wage [ [link removed] ] 

* Minneapolis minimum wage [ [link removed] ] 

* Webinar:  Understanding minimum wage and overtime (Nov. 19). Register [ [link removed] ].

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Minnesota Paid Leave starts Jan. 1, 2026

Minnesota Paid Leave [ [link removed] ] allows workers to take paid time off to care for themselves or a family member, with job protection.

Employers may not:


* Refuse to reinstate an employee after leave.

* Discontinue health insurance during leave.

* Retaliate against anyone for their protected activity, including applying for or using Paid Leave.

Learn more about Minnesota Paid Leave job protections at dli.mn.gov/paid-leave-protections [ [link removed] ].

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Changes to Minnesota's meal and rest break laws take effect Jan. 1, 2026

Starting Jan. 1, 2026, employers must generally allow employees to take:  


* A paid rest break that is at least 15 minutes for every four consecutive hours worked.

* An unpaid meal break that is at least 30 minutes when working six or more consecutive hours.

New FAQs are available to help employers and workers understand the updated requirements. Visit dli.mn.gov/breaks [ [link removed] ].

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Earned sick and safe time (ESST) updates took effect July 1, 2025

Key changes and clarifications to the Minnesota ESST law include:


* Employers can require reasonable notice for unforeseeable ESST absences.

* Employers can require reasonable documentation when an employee uses ESST for more than two consecutive scheduled workdays.

* Employees can voluntarily trade shifts to cover ESST hours.

Learn more at sickleave.mn.gov [ [link removed] ].

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Latinx food truck workers
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month 

As we observe Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15), we honor the contributions of Latinx workers and business owners in Minnesota's economy, especially in construction, hospitality, agriculture and manufacturing.

DLI is proud to partner with Latinx organizations, employers and workers to support fair wages, safe workplaces and access to opportunity.

*Coming webinar in Spanish*

Tiempo ganado por enfermedad y razones de seguridad:  Cómo se gana, se usa y se transfiere, Oct. 14, 5-6 p.m. Regístrate [ [link removed] ].



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Father giving newborn baby a bottle
October featured case 

A staffing agency violated an employee's rights by failing to reinstate the employee after their protected parental leave. As a result, DLI investigated, secured reinstatement of employment for the employee and recovered more than $4,400 in lost back-wages for the employee. DLI also provided the employer with educational resources to prevent future violations.

Minnesota's parental leave law requires employers to return their employees to the same or a comparable position after taking parental leave. Learn more about Minnesota's parental leave law at dli.mn.gov/parental-leave [ [link removed] ].



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Question of the month

*Can an employer treat part-time and full-time employees differently under the ESST law? For example, can an employer front-load ESST hours for some employees but not others?*

Yes, an employer can treat part-time and full-time employees differently for purposes of ESST so long as the employer provides all employees at least what they are entitled to under Minnesota's ESST law and as long as the law is applied in a way that does not discriminate against an employee or group of employees based on a protected class, such as race, sex or national origin.

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"Wage and Hour Bulletin" archive

Access past editions of the "Wage and Hour Bulletin" [ [link removed] ].

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Questions?

Labor Standards serves the people of Minnesota by providing
information about the state's wage, hour and employment laws.

Phone:  651-284-5075 or 800-342-5354
Email:  [email protected]
Website:  dli.mn.gov [ [link removed] ]





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minnesota department of labor and industry [ [link removed] ]

*Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry  |  www.dli.mn.gov [ [link removed] ] *

651-284-5005 or 800-342-5354

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