Minnesota Paid Leave Making Real Impact | Duluth News

Minnesota’s new paid leave program is already delivering big results, with 75,000 residents cashing in over $600 million in benefits in just six months—averaging more than $1,000 per week for new parents, health needs, or family care. It’s especially helping lower-wage workers, people of color, and rural residents who previously had little to no access. Employers like Northern Waters Smokehaus in Duluth report minimal payroll impact and smoother coverage for unexpected absences. The state’s DEED is saving $70 million on setup costs, reinvesting it into benefits, and processing 4,000 new claims weekly—while rolling out tools to simplify access. This is a major win for working families and a model for equitable, practical support. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/feadda68ea3658f5