Most employees in Minnesota on waged employment terms can be fired at will. This means that an employer can fire their employees for almost any reason. Employees can terminate their employment without giving a reason as well. However, not all at-will employment termination is legal. Termination of employment due to discrimination or whistleblowing is prohibited in Minnesota.
If you have been fired for a breach of Minnesota’s wrongful termination laws you may be able to file a claim against your employer and recover compensation. It is advisable to hire an attorney to help you with your claim.
What is the Minnesota Human Rights Act?
The Minnesota Human Rights Act sets out what rights residents of the state are entitled to. The Act prohibits many types of discrimination in workplaces, as well as any attempt by an employee to refuse to carry out an illegal act or report illegal activity at their workplace.
Protected classes under the Minnesota Human Rights Act include:
- color;
- race;
- ethnic or national background;
- sex;
- sexual orientation;
- marital status;
- family status;
- age;
- disability;
- religious affiliation.
If you belong to one of these protected classes under the Minnesota Human Rights Act and have evidence that you were fired because you belonged to one of these classes, then your employer may have been in breach of the Act.
The Minnesota Human Rights Act also makes it illegal for employees to be fired because they have initiated a claim against their employer because of a breach of the Act such as a complaint that their employer has done something illegal or tried to persuade an employee to carry out an illegal act.
The state’s Human Rights Act is a parallel to equivalent federal legislation which prevents employer from firing any of their employees for certain specific reason.
What Other Laws Protect Minnesota Workers From Wrongful Termination?
Minnesota workers are protected against wrongful termination by a combination of state and federal laws. Federal legislation which prohibits termination of employment because of discrimination includes the:
- Civil Rights Act 1967;
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA);
- Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA).
Who Oversees the Wrongful Termination Laws in Minnesota?
Two main agencies, one state, and the other federal, are responsible for enforcing state and federal wrongful termination laws.
The Minnesota Department o f Human Rights enforces the Minnesota Human Rights Act. If you file your complaint with this agency, it will investigate the complaint and attempt to resolve it if there is a breach of the Act. The Department will also cross file the complaint with the equivalent federal agency, the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC) and you can file your complaint with either agency directly. The EEOC will investigate cases of wrongful discrimination in workplaces with 25 or more employees, so if you work in a smaller workplace, your first point of complaint will be with your state anti-discrimination agency, the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.
Note that the statute of limitations for any claim with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights is the same as for the EEOC, i.e. one year from the date of the alleged wrongful termination of employment.
Get in Touch With a Lawyer That Takes Minnesota Wrongful Termination Claims
If you think that you were fired because you belonged to a ‘protected class,’ or complained about wrongful acts by your employer, you are entitled to file a complaint with the state’s Human Rights Department or the federal EEOC. Fill out the Free Case Evaluation to get connected with an independent employment law attorney who subscribes to the website and may be able to help with your case.
