When someone loses their job unexpectedly, it can cause significant financial strain. Losing one’s job is stressful and many Minnesota workers may not know their rights when they are terminated. While not all job losses are due to wrongful termination, those that are can put someone in a very difficult position where they may struggle to find work again. Workers do have rights and they can protect themselves by understanding the wrongful termination laws in the state.
What happens when one is terminated from their job?
When one loses their job in Minnesota, they have the right to request in writing the reason for termination. The request must be submitted within 15 working days of the termination and the employer has 10 days after receiving the request to comply. The state does not require an employer to provide advance notice before termination.
While Minnesota is an “at will” state, this doesn’t mean that an employer can fire someone because they are in a protected class. Employers are not allowed to fire an employee based on their race, creed, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, age, or religion. There are also laws in place to prevent wrongful termination of whistle-blowers from retaliation.
Seek advice when wrongfully terminated
If an employee in Minnesota believes they were terminated wrongfully based on being a member of any of the protected classes, they may have cause for legal action. There are laws in place to protect employees from being fired based on certain criteria. If someone feels these laws were violated, they have the right to file a civil lawsuit against the employer to seek compensation for wrongful termination.