Paid & Unpaid Leave
The State of Minnesota offers leave benefits that allow employees to take time off from work for various reasons. Leave benefits - whether paid, unpaid or partially paid - are generally an agreement based on your collective bargaining agreement.
Timesheets & Leave Reporting
Workday provides employees access to their online time sheets and absence reporting. Review the Managing Time and Absence job aid for step-by-step instructions on how to submit a leave request and enter work time.
Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Every fiscal year, the State of Minnesota will provide up to 12 weeks (480 hours) of job-protected leave to eligible employees for certain family and medical reasons consistent with the FMLA, relevant State law, and collective bargaining agreements and plans.
Paid Parental Leave (PPL)
Eligible state employees are entitled to up to six (6) consecutive weeks (240 hours) of paid parental leave (PPL) following: the birth of a child; placement of a child in the employee’s home for adoption; or placement of a child in the employee’s home to adjudicate parentage in cases of surrogacy when the employee is the intended parent. This leave is available to both parents if they are both eligible state employees.
- Parental Leave Employee Packet
- State of MN Paid Parental Leave Policy
- Paid Parental Leave Plan Template
- Short Term Disability Information
- Paid Parental Leave Flowchart
Other Parental Leave & Employee Rights
You may be eligible for other parental leave if you are not eligible for FMLA or PPL. In addition to other types of parental leave, there are certain employee rights put in place by federal and MN law to protect pregnant and lactating employees. MSUM supports new parents by providing access to three (3) designated Lactation Rooms for employee use.
- Parental Leave Employee Packet
- MN Pregnancy and Parenting Leave Act (PPLA)
- Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
- PUMP Act
- Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA)
- MN Nursing Mothers, Lactating Employees, and Pregnancy Accommodations Law
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Title VII
Please reach out to a Human Resources staff member for more information.
Sabbatical Leave
Sabbatical leaves are provided to maintain the high level of academic excellence necessary to meet the missions of the Minnesota State System and its institutions. Sabbatical leaves may be awarded for various reasons related to scholarly or professional growth, development, or renewal, including creative endeavors that promise to enhance the professional effectiveness of the applicant.
Military Leave
The Uniformed Service Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) protects the job rights of individuals who voluntarily or involuntarily leave employment positions to undertake military service or certain types of service in the National Disaster Medical System. State laws also provide benefits and protections to state employees who are on leave for military duty. Eligible employees may be entitled to the following:
- Military pay differential for employees in the reserve forces who report for active service.
- Paid military leave of 15 days per calendar year.
- Up to four (4) years of job-protected unpaid leave for qualifying active service.
USERRA Rights: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/VETS/legacy/files/USERRA_Private.pdf
Department of Labor’s USERRA website: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/userra
Vacation Donation
Did you know that State employees can donate up to 40 hours of vacation or personal leave to qualified employees under the Vacation Donation Program? Individuals in this program have life threatening medical conditions or have exhausted their leave balances and are expected to be off work for at least 6 additional weeks. Donations by other State employees are a big help in continuing salaries or in covering medical expenses that are not reimbursed. Instead of losing vacation time, why not donate it!
Voluntary Unpaid Leave of Absence
In accordance with Minnesota Statute, Section 43A.49 - Voluntary Unpaid Leave of Absence, which states (in part): “Appointing authorities in state government may allow each employee to take an unpaid leave of absence for up to 1,040 hours in each two-year period beginning July 1 of each odd-numbered year. Each appointing authority approving such leave shall allow the employee to continue accruing vacation and sick leave, be eligible for paid holidays and insurance benefits, accrue seniority, and accrue service credit in state retirement plans as if the employee had actually been employed during the time of the leave…”