The 2025 Minnesota legislature amended various employment law statutes. Here are some changes that are important for employers to know:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/em> or enough time to utilize the nearest convenient restroom<\/em>, 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\u2019s rest break time that should have been allowed at the employee\u2019s regular rate, plus an additional equal amount in liquidated damages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Effective January 1, 2026, employees working six <\/em>or more consecutive hours must be allowed a meal break of at least 30 minutes<\/em>. If the employer does not allow an employee to take meal breaks, the employer could be liable for the employee\u2019s meal break time that should have been allowed at the employee\u2019s regular rate, plus an additional equal amount in liquidated damages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The following amendments went into effect on July 1, 2025:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Effective January 1, 2026, employers are permitted to advance ESST to an employee based on the number of hours the employee is anticipated<\/em> to work for the remaining portion of the accrual year. The amendment further will provide that \u201c[i]f the advanced amount is less than the amount the employee would have accrued based on the actual hours worked, the employer must provide additional ESST to make up the difference.\u201d The amendment does not provide guidance on what should happen if the advanced amount is more <\/em>than the amount the employee accrues based on actual hours worked.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMandatory Meal Breaks \u2013 Amendments to Minn. Stat. \u00a7 177.254 subd. 1, 2, and 4:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) \u2013 Amendments to Minn. Stat. \u00a7 181.9447 subd. 2, 3, and 4 and \u00a7 181.9448 subd. 1(j)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Minnesota Paid Family Leave \u2013 Amendment to Minn. Stat. \u00a7 268B.14 subd. 7.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n