Minnesota does not have a state law that specifically requires employers to offer pregnancy leave. However, the Minnesota Human Rights Act requires employers to provide the same leave benefits to women affected by pregnancy or childbirth, or disabilities related to pregnancy or childbirth, that are provided to employees with temporary disabilities (MN Stat. Sec. 363.03 Subd. 5). As a general rule, this means that employers can provide leave for employees who are pregnant or who have temporary disabilities, with or without pay, or not provide it at all, as long as all employees are treated the same in their requests for temporary leave. The law covers all employers, regardless of size.
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Download Now The Minnesota Parental Leave Act requires employers to provide up to 6 weeks of unpaid parental leave to new mothers and fathers for the birth or adoption of a child. The Act covers employers with 21 or more employees (MN Stat. Sec. 181.940et seq.). However, there is a section of the Act that applies to all employers, and that is the School Leave section, which allows employees up to 16 unpaid hours a year to attend school functions, provided the function cannot be scheduled during nonwork hours. When the leave cannot be scheduled during nonwork hours and the need for the leave is foreseeable, the employee must provide reasonable prior notice of the leave and make a reasonable effort to schedule the leave so as not to unduly disrupt the business of the employer (MN Stat. Sec. 181.9412).
In addition, employers with 50 or more employees may have leave obligations under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).