On March 15, 2023, the Minnesota Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on a bill that would ban noncompete agreements in Minnesota. Brian Rochel testified as an expert on the bill, SF 405, explaining how noncompete agreements harm workers and the economy. The bill passed the Judiciary Committee and is moving quickly through the legislature. If you […]
On January 19, 2022, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed a rule that would broadly ban the use of noncompete clauses by employers with respect to employees, independent contractors, and volunteers. Specifically, the proposed rule would make it illegal for an employer to enter into any noncompete agreement. It would also bar any attempt to […]
On December 22, 2022, the Senate passed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). Advocates for fair and equitable working conditions for pregnant workers have been fighting for passage of this Act over the past ten years and the bill is finally on its way to the White House after strong bipartisan support. When a worker […]
The National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) holds a special conference for its Eighth Circuit Chapter once every two years. The 2022 conference was held on October 14-15, in St. Louis, MO. NELA is the largest organization of lawyers who represent workers in the United States and is focused exclusively on advancing employee rights and making the […]
Kitzer Rochel, PLLP, a boutique employment litigation law firm in Minneapolis, MN, is pleased to announce that the firm and its lawyers were recognized in Benchmark Litigation’s 2023 guide. The annual guide identifies leading litigators and law firms using extensive research methods and in-depth interviews with practitioners, dispute resolution specialists, and clients. Partners Phillip Kitzer […]
In July 2022, Minnesota passed a bill to legalize certain kinds of marijuana for recreational use. The new law modifies Minnesota’s list of controlled substances to exclude “industrial hemp” products that contain no more than 0.3 percent of any form of THC. The law also allows individuals ages 21 or older to purchase edible and […]
Phillip Kitzer and Brian Rochel have both been elected to serve in leadership roles on the Board of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Employment Lawyers Association (MN-NELA). Brian Rochel has been elected the President of the Board, and Phillip Kitzer has been elected Secretary. Each will serve one-year terms. Brian was elected to serve […]
The Minnesota Human Rights Act (“MHRA” or “Act”) protects individuals from discrimination in the workplace,[1] including sexual harassment as a form of gender discrimination.[2] Workers are further protected against termination, demotion, or other retaliatory employment actions in response to reporting discrimination or sexual harassment.[3] Ultimately, the MHRA was designed to “provide more expansive protections to […]
