About 12,000 Minnesotans have applied to take time off under the state's new Paid Family and Medical Leave program.
State of play: About 4,000 of the 6,300 applications processed as of Friday have been approved, per the Department of Employment and Economic Development.
How it works: Most Minnesota workers are now eligible for up to 12 weeks off with partial pay to care for a new baby, a sick loved one, or their own serious health issues.
The amount of pay, which varies based on income, maxes out at about $1,400 a week. Total time off is capped at 20 weeks a year.
Friction point: Critics, including major business groups, are concerned about costs — including the a 0.88% payroll tax — and staffing impacts.
Plus: Republican legislators are worried about the potential for fraud and abuse.
The big picture: DEED expects to approve about 130,000 applications in year one.
Deputy commissioner Evan Rowe told reporters that the high volume of initial applications is attributed in part to an early launch of the portal and is "not out of line with the projections."
Commissioner Matt Varilek said he's confident that anti-fraud measures, such as identity verification and provider approval for medical claims, are working.
