"Small businesses struggle paycheck to paycheck, payroll to payroll. How are we going to make sure this doesn't affect them?"

Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce Vice President Daniel Fanning, regarding a new Minnesota state law that provides job protections and partial wage replacement to qualifying workers at any size business who may need to take up to 12 weeks of leave to care for themselves or a family member. Small businesses are primarily concerned about how paying for the program may impact their bottom lines in today’s economy. Minnesota will become the 13th state to implement a statewide paid family and medical leave program when the law goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2026. (Duluth News Tribune — Oct. 8, 2024)