Legal Question in Employment Law in Minnesota
I work nights as a baker for Panera Bread in downtown minneapolis; the other night me and my co baker were talking about the crime that occurs downtown and how unsafe it was in our area. I then proceeded to tell him a story of how I thought someone was following me home at 5 am after I got off the bus. This particular night we had a shadow from the catering department with us through out the night. I mentioned to my co worker that because I was so scared in the mornings when I would walk home my father bought me some mase and stun gun. I showed it to him in my purse but I never took it out. The next night at work, I walk in and my boss is awaiting my arrival. He sits me down and asks me if I had a tazer at work. I told him yes in my purse for personal protection. The catering guy had emailed my boss informing him that I had one oven though it was just a conversation that he over heard. My boss then hads me a piece of paper that states that this is my first and final warning and I must sign it. I refused so sign it right then because I wanted to look over it before I just signed it and he told me that if I didnt sign it right then I was going to lose my job immediately. So I signed it. I then asked him for a copy of the document. I even sent him and email asking for a copy so that I had proof that I asked for a copy. Is there something legal that I can do to protect myself from job lost? The catering guy has never liked me and I believe has something against me and will do whatever he can to get me fired. He never saw the stun gun, he just over heard our conversation.
1 Answer from Attorneys
I am afraid the bad nbews is that if you do not have a contract securing your employment, you may be terminated for any reason or no reason. That is called "at will" employment. That wuld include being terminated for having a stun guin at work. The only thing that changes the "at will" status would be a law that protects you. Statutes protect against certain suspect classes such as categhories of race, creed, color, age, gender etc... If you are not terminated for one of thos reasons, you likely have no remedy.
You may review a copy of your employee file upon request.
For Minnesota issues visit minnesotalawyers.com
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