Bereavement Leave in Minnesota
No state law requires bereavement leave in Minnesota
Minnesota does not have a standalone bereavement leave law. However, Minnesota's Earned Sick and Safe Time law (effective January 2024) allows employees to use accrued paid time off to make funeral arrangements, attend funeral or memorial services, and handle financial or legal matters related to the death of a family member. Employees accrue one hour for every 30 hours worked, capped at 48 hours per year.
What are your options?
Minnesota's Earned Sick and Safe Time law lets you use accrued paid time off for bereavement-related purposes including funerals, memorials, and handling death-related financial and legal matters. You may also use PTO or vacation time. Minnesota's Paid Family and Medical Leave program (launched January 2026) may provide additional support during bereavement periods.
Bereavement leave in Minnesota: what you need to know
Minnesota requires bereavement leave under a broader paid leave framework. The state's Earned Sick and Safe Time law, effective January 1, 2024, requires employers of all sizes to provide paid sick and safe time that explicitly covers bereavement. Employees earn one hour for every 30 hours worked, up to 48 hours per year. This makes Minnesota one of the most protective states for bereavement despite not having a separate bereavement statute.
Minnesota's paid leave covers time needed to arrange or attend a funeral or memorial, to address financial or legal matters arising after the death, and for grief. The law's explicit mention of bereavement uses gives Minnesota workers clearer protection than workers in states where bereavement must be squeezed into general sick leave provisions.
Minnesota also bans non-compete agreements entirely (effective July 1, 2023), which is relevant context for workers who might otherwise fear employer retaliation for taking leave. The state's overall approach to employment law is among the most employee-protective in the nation.
Minnesota's economy includes major Fortune 500 companies (UnitedHealth Group, Target, 3M, General Mills, Best Buy, U.S. Bancorp), a strong healthcare and medical device sector (Medtronic, Mayo Clinic in Rochester), and significant agricultural and food processing industries. Workers at these large employers typically have bereavement leave policies that exceed what state law requires.
Minnesota state employees have additional bereavement leave provisions under their collective bargaining agreements. AFSCME and MAPE contracts typically provide specific bereavement leave days. University of Minnesota employees have their own leave policies. The Mayo Clinic, one of the state's largest employers, has its own bereavement benefits that are generally considered generous by industry standards.
Minnesota's Earned Sick and Safe Time law is particularly worker-friendly because it applies to employers of all sizes, including small businesses. Many state sick leave laws exempt small employers, but Minnesota does not. This means even workers at small businesses with 1 or more employees are covered. For bereavement specifically, this universal coverage ensures that workers at small Minnesota employers have a legal right to paid time for grieving, arranging funerals, and handling financial matters after a death.
More Minnesota workplace laws
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Frequently asked questions about bereavement leave in Minnesota
Yes. Minnesota's Earned Sick and Safe Time law explicitly covers time needed to arrange or attend a funeral, address financial or legal matters after a death, and for grief. This is clearer protection than most states provide.
Minnesota employees earn one hour of paid sick and safe time for every 30 hours worked, up to 48 hours per year. The law applies to employers of all sizes, making it one of the broadest paid leave mandates in the country.
Most Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Minnesota offer paid bereavement leave beyond what state law requires. Companies like Target, 3M, and UnitedHealth typically provide 3 to 5 paid bereavement days in addition to the earned sick and safe time entitlement.
Yes. Minnesota state employees have bereavement leave provisions under their collective bargaining agreements. AFSCME and MAPE contracts typically provide specific bereavement leave. Contact your union representative or agency HR for the terms.
The Mayo Clinic, one of Minnesota's largest employers, provides bereavement leave as part of its benefits package. The specific terms depend on your employee classification. Check Mayo's HR policies or speak with your manager.