ONLINE
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
9:00 AM - 4:15 PM
Questions about Minnesota’s new Paid Leave program?
Navigating the overlapping paid and unpaid leave laws and scenarios in Minnesota can make your head spin! Do not despair – you are not alone.This seminar provides clear guidance in this murky area to prepare for the January 1, 2026 effective date of the new Minnesota Paid Leave Law and analyze how it complements the existing framework of paid and unpaid leave laws. We’ve got the answers – for employees, employers, and attorneys – so you can navigate the rollout with confidence.
Seminar takeaways include:
8:30 – 9:00 a.m.
CHECK-IN & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
9:00 – 9:05 a.m.
Welcome and Introduction
– Penny Phillips, Course Chair
9:05 – 10:05 a.m.
Paid Family and Medical Leave in Minnesota: A Practical Overview
What it is, who it covers, key features, and why it matters to you!
– Penny Phillips
10:05 – 10:10 a.m.
BREAK
10:10 – 11:10 a.m.
Calculating Concurrent Leaves: Juggling MPL, ESST, FMLA and PFMLA Without Dropping the Ball
Employees may qualify for multiple leave programs at once. Learn practical strategies for coordinating so everyone gets the time they need while employers stay on solid legal ground.
– Sharon S. Beck & Amy B. Conway
11:10 – 11:20 a.m.
BREAK
11:20 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.
Get It Right: Practical Leave Strategies for Employers
Representatives from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry provide authoritative guidance on the PFML program, including employer obligations and compliance strategies. Get practical tips and answers to common questions at this session.
– Sara B. Ellstra & Kate Kunitz
12:20 – 1:00 p.m.
LUNCH BREAK (on your own)
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Navigating Paid Leave for Public Employers and Unionized Workforces
Learn about subtleties and nuances that exist for public sector employees and unionized workforces.
– Susan K. Hansen & Elise M. Heifort
2:00 – 2:05 p.m.
BREAK
2:05 – 3:05 p.m.
Equivalent Plans: Pathway to Exemption from State Plan Participation
A helpful question and answer session with a paid family and medical leave expert on how insurers or employers can offer state-approved equivalent Minnesota Paid Leave plans, manage claims, and navigate Minnesota’s new paid leave law—all while staying compliant and minimizing risk.
– Brycie Wasson
3:05 – 3:15 p.m.
BREAK
3:15 – 4:15 p.m.
Leave Laws Applied: Realistic Scenarios, Real Solutions
Expert panel of faculty from the day’s sessions join up to discuss how to properly handle hypothetical real-world situations.
– Laura A. Farley, Elise M. Heifort, Kristin Berger Parker & Brycie Wasson
– Penny Phillips (moderator)
LIVE IN-PERSON
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Minnesota CLE Conference Center
600 Nicollet Mall, Suite 370
Seventh Street & Nicollet Mall, Third Floor City Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota
ONLINE REPLAYS
Monday, October 20, 2025
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Attend online
A moderator will be available to answer questions by email.
$295 MSBA members / $295 paralegals / $345 standard rate
Other discounts that may apply:
Scholarships available!
Need-based scholarships are available for in-person and online seminars. For further information or to obtain a scholarship application, contact us at 800-759-8840 or customerservice@minncle.org.
Minnesota CLE is applying to the Minnesota State Board of CLE for 6.0 CLE credits. The maximum number of total credits attendees may claim for this program is 6.0 credits.
Minnesota CLE also has applied to the Minnesota State Bar Association for 6.0 labor and employment law specialist credits.
Minnesota CLE also has applied to the Human Resource Certification Institute for 6.0 HR (General) recertification credit hours.
Minnesota CLE is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for the SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP. This program is valid for 6.0 PDCs for the SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit www.shrmcertification.org.
