Minnesota workers that have experienced workplace discrimination might qualify to file a claim with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.
Employees in Minnesota that have been discriminated against at work should consider contacting an employment law attorney.
Your employer has legal counsel representing the company, which means you should balance the scales of justice by working with a lawyer who might be able to get you just compensation. State law gives workers a limited number of days to file a claim. This means you should act with a sense of urgency to get your complaint heard.
What Type of Discrimination Laws Does Minnesota Have?
At the federal level, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 covers workers that have faced employment discrimination in the workplace.
Like most states, Minnesota has enacted stricter employment discrimination laws under the state’ Human Rights Act. According to the Minnesota Human Rights Act, it is illegal for employers to treat workers differently because they belong to a certain group or protected class of people.
Who Receives Protection Under Minnesota Employment Discrimination Law?
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 covers the following protected class of people in the State of Minnesota:
- Age (Must be at least 40 years old)
- Sex
- Race
- Color
- Religion
- National origin
- Disability
- Citizenship status
- Sexual orientation
- Gender identity
The Human Rights Act follows the same guidelines for banning Minnesota workplace discrimination, but the state enforces discrimination based on additional factors than the ones established at the federal level.
For example, if an employer treats a worker differently because of the worker’s marital status, then the worker has been discriminated against at work. Employers also cannot discriminate based on a worker’s involvement with a local human rights organization.
What Employers are Forbidden to Commit Employment Discrimination in Minnesota?
Federal law prohibits employers that have a minimum of 15 employees to commit acts of workplace discrimination in Minnesota. However, Minnesota employment discrimination laws apply to employers of all sizes.
This means that if you experienced discrimination in the workplace and your employer has fewer than 15 workers, you should file a complaint by referencing the Minnesota Human Rights Act.
What Agencies Enforce Employment Discrimination Laws
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) handles formal workplace discrimination complaints at the federal level. At the state level, the Minnesota Department of Human Rights processes formal complaints against employers that have discriminated at work in Minnesota.
How Do I File an Employment Discrimination Claim in Minnesota?
Minnesota workers have the right to file a formal employment discrimination complaint with either the EEOC or the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR). The two government agencies operate on a work-sharing arrangement, which means the agencies share information that pertains to employment discrimination complaints.
File a formal employment discrimination complaint by contacting the MDHR.
St. Paul Office
- 625 Robert Street North
- St. Paul, MN 55155
- Phone: (651) 296-1100
- Toll-free: (800) 657-3704
- TTY: (651) 296-1283
St. Cloud Regional Office
- City Hall
- 400 2nd Street South
- Phone: (320) 650-3133
- Toll-Free: (800) 657-3704
- Fax: (320) 650-3223
File a formal employment discrimination complaint with EEOC by contacting the following office:
Minneapolis Area Office
- 330 South Second Avenue
- Suite 430
- Minneapolis, MN 55401-2224
- Phone: (612) 335-4040
- TTY: (612) 335-4045
You should also discover whether your city or county has established a workplace discrimination law in Minnesota. Some cities such as St. Paul and Minneapolis have created local government agencies that process formal complaints. An employment law lawyer knows which government agency is the best option for your particular complaint.
What is the Deadline for Filing an Employment Discrimination Complaint in Minnesota?
Do not procrastinate when it comes to filing a formal discrimination complaint against your employer. You have one year from the date of the last act of workplace discrimination to file your formal complaint with the MDHR.
The statute of limitations for filing an employment discrimination complaint with the EEOC is 180 days. If you fail to meet the deadline established by either government agency, you can expect your complaint to come back dismissed by a court clerk.
How to Get Help Filing an Employment Discrimination Complaint in Minnesota
Because of the legal implications, most employers take allegations of discrimination seriously. This means they lean on legal advice to prevent taking a financial hit.
You should counteract your employer’s legal maneuvers by speaking with an employment law lawyer. An attorney can keep you track to file a formal complaint long before the deadline, as well as interview witnesses that can verify your account of discrimination in the workplace Schedule a free case evaluation to get the ball rolling on your formal complaint.
