S.H.A.K.E at the Coliseum Welcomes Back Governor Walz

January 6, 2026

When life’s most important moments happen, the state of Minnesota now has accessible solutions for small businesses. On January 6, 2026, Governor Walz hosted a press conference at SHAKE at the Coliseum Event Center to share an overview of the Minnesota Paid Leave Act (PFML) which became law at the beginning of the year. The PFML provides nearly all Minnesota workers including full time, part time, temporary and most seasonal workers up to 20 weeks of partially paid leave (12 weeks medical, 12 weeks family) for qualifying needs like serious illness, caregiving, or parental bonding, with wage replacement from 55-90% and job protection regardless of business industry or size.

Janice Downing, Co-Owner of SHAKE at the Coliseum and CommonSense Consulting at Work, knows the benefit that this will bring to her staff allowing them time off to care for family if needed while ensuring that their employment is not in jeopardy. As a small human resources firm, this allows her to compete more competitively in retaining current and attracting future employees as compared to larger firms.

Some key features include:

  • Benefit Amounts: Partial wage replacement (55-90%), capped around $1,430 weekly in 2026. 

  • Leave Duration: Up to 12 weeks for medical leave and 12 weeks for family leave, totaling a maximum of 20 weeks in a year. 

  • Reasons for Leave: Care for a new child, a sick family member, own serious health condition, domestic violence, or military deployment. 

  • Job Protection: Employees have the right to return to their jobs with continued benefits.

How It Works 

  1. Apply: Submit applications to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) via their official website.

  2. Provide Documentation: Medical certification or other proof of qualifying events is required.

  3. Employer Notification: Employers must inform employees about their rights under the new law.

We are grateful for the servant leadership of Governor Walz and thank DEED Commission Matt Varilek, Minnesota State Representative Cedric Frazier and Senator Alice Mann for their role in creating and advancing this significant legislation that will help Minnesota working families. Visit https://paidleave.mn.gov for more information.

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