Minnesota 2025 Legislative Employment Law Updates

The 2025 Minnesota legislature amended various employment law statutes. Here are some changes that are important for employers to know: Mandatory Rest Breaks – Amendments to Minn. Stat. § 177.253 subd. 1 and 3: The new rest break statute goes into effect on January 1, 2026, and requires employers to permit employees a rest break of at least 15 minutes or enough time to utilize the nearest convenient restroom, whichever is longer, within each four consecutive hours worked. If the employer does not allow these rest breaks, the employer could be liable for the employee’s rest break time that should have been allowed at the employee’s regular rate, plus an additional equal amount in liquidated damages. Mandatory Meal Breaks – Amendments to Minn. Stat. § 177.254 subd. 1, 2, and 4: Effective January 1, 2026, employees working six or more consecutive hours must be allowed a meal break of at least 30 minutes. If the employer does not allow an employee to take meal breaks, the employer could be liable for the employee’s meal break time that should have been allowed at the employee’s regular rate, plus an additional equal amount in liquidated damages. Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) – Amendments to Minn. Stat. § 181.9447 subd. 2, 3, and 4 and…