When you hear that Minnesota is an “at-will” employment state, you may wonder what that means for an employee. It simply means you can quit your job for any reason at any time; you do not have to give notice nor a reason to your employer for leaving your position.
However, it also means an employer can terminate your employment for any reason at any time, as long as the reason for termination is not illegal. For example, it is illegal for an employer to terminate employment based on an employee’s race, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, or religion.
It is also illegal to terminate an employee in retaliation for a few very specific things. For example, it is illegal to retaliate against an employee because the employee reported something illegal (whistleblowing), because the employee requested FMLA, because the employee filed for workers’ compensation benefits, or because the employee reported illegal discrimination. However, it is not illegal for an employer to retaliate against an employee for most other reasons.
Being an “at-will” employment state makes it easy for an employee and their employer to part ways if the position is not working for one or both of the parties. But, if you feel you have been wrongfully terminated based on discrimination or retaliation, contact us at Kitzer Rochel. Our experienced employment law attorneys would be happy to discuss your case and help you understand your legal rights and options.
