Legal Question in Employment Law in Minnesota

A year ago due to work reduction, etc. My job was eliminated after 44years. In order for me to

stay with the company I was forced to sign a Employment At Will . They would not tell me any

benefits I would receive or severance pay. So in order to keep a job within the Company and $12,000 a year less pay, I had to sign the Employment At Will. On the Employment At Will it stated a new wage but since that time the wage has changed. Is the Employment At Will still valid.

Thank you


Asked on 2/02/10, 9:52 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Maury Beaulier612.240.8005 Minnesota Lawyers

Your post is somewhat confisisng since your employer did not really need to have you sign anything. Unfortunately, ALL employment starts out as employment "at will." That means you may be fired for any reason or no reason or you may quit for any reason or no reason. The only thing that changes the "at will" status is contract and statutes. If you do not have a contract for employment, you have no contractual protections.

The statutes or the law, only protects against employment decisions that are discriminatory in nature. To be discriminatory, the employer must treat you differently than others based on a suspect class as defined by statutes. They may treat you differently for other reasons not based on the suspect class. For example, they may treat you differently because they do not like you, how you dress or how you part your hair. None of those things involve a suspect class. Suspect classes under state and federal statutes differ slightly, but generally include things such as race, creed, color, religion, sex, age, disability, whistleblower etc..

If you were not treated differently based on such classifications, there is no action that can be taken. If you feel you were treated differently based on a suspect classification, you may file a complaint with the EEOC or Department of Human Rights in Minnesota.

I am truly sorry to hear of your troubles.

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Answered on 2/08/10, 10:11 am


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