Minnesota Labor Law Changes for 2025 and 2026

Minnesota employers should take note of recent and upcoming changes to labor laws that impact earned sick and safe time (ESST) and employee break requirements. These changes, issued by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, include provisions that took effect July 1, 2025, with additional requirements scheduled for January 1, 2026.

Lakeside HR Group has reviewed these updates and outlined practical guidance below to help employers stay compliant and operationally ready.

In Case You Missed It – ESST and Break Time Rules Are Evolving

Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) Updates – Effective July 1, 2025

Amendments to Minnesota’s ESST law clarify several areas of employer discretion. As of July 1, 2025:

  • Employers may require reasonable notice when employees use ESST for unforeseeable reasons.
  • Employers may request reasonable documentation if an employee uses ESST for more than two consecutive scheduled workdays.
  • Employees may voluntarily trade shifts with coworkers as a means of covering time off taken under ESST.
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Looking ahead:

Effective January 1, 2026, Minnesota law will affirm that employers may frontload ESST based on anticipated work hours. While this has been a common practice, the law will now clearly permit this method as an alternative to accrual-based tracking.

Lakeside’s Guidance:

We recommend updating your ESST policy to include language addressing documentation and notice requirements, while ensuring compliance with anti-retaliation provisions. Employers who choose to frontload ESST should also document how anticipated hours are determined and ensure consistency across similarly situated employees.

Rest and Meal Break Requirements – Effective January 1, 2026

Beginning in 2026, Minnesota will also enforce new minimum standards for paid and unpaid breaks:

  • Employers must allow employees to take at least one 15-minute paid break for every four consecutive hours worked. This includes time for restroom use or general rest.
  • For any shift of six or more consecutive hours, employees must receive at least a 30-minute unpaid meal break.
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Employers who fail to provide these breaks may be required to compensate employees for missed time and may also be liable for liquidated damages equal to the unpaid compensation.

Lakeside’s Guidance:

Employers should ensure that timekeeping and scheduling systems are equipped to log both paid and unpaid breaks, particularly in non-exempt roles. Additionally, we recommend revisiting policies and practices to confirm that employees are not pressured to work through breaks and that any interruptions are documented and compensated appropriately.

Next Steps for Employers

With these legal changes taking effect in mid-2025 and early 2026, we encourage employers to:

  • Review and revise employee handbooks and internal policies to align with ESST and break requirements.
  • Update timekeeping and scheduling systems to track rest and meal periods in accordance with state law.
  • Provide training to supervisors and HR teams on how to manage leave requests, approve breaks, and handle documentation within the updated legal framework.
  • Audit current practices for any potential risks, particularly related to time worked during breaks or inconsistent application of ESST policy.

How Lakeside HR Group Can Help

At Lakeside HR Group, we understand the complexity of implementing evolving labor laws across diverse teams and worksites. We provide hands-on support to help employers:

  • Conduct policy reviews and compliance audits
  • Draft updated ESST and break policies that reflect the law and your organizational practices
  • Develop communication plans to inform employees of changes
  • Train managers on lawful leave administration and break enforcement

To ensure your organization is fully prepared—and to avoid compliance pitfalls—we encourage employers to start planning for these changes now.

Questions or concerns about how these updates apply to your workplace?

Contact us for guidance tailored to your workforce.

About Lakeside HR Group

We are a premier Recruiting and HR Consulting firm connecting people and businesses through personalized, full-service solutions. As a boutique firm of seasoned HR professionals, we specialize in providing customized HR services for small to midsize businesses. With expertise across diverse industries, positions, and states throughout the U.S., we partner with our clients to discover top talent and deliver the support needed to help their businesses thrive.

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