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Minnesota

Minnesota state agencies and universities are now subject to USERRA claims

07/21/2017
A Minnesota appeals court has reinstated a Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act claim against a state university.

Before firing for too much sick leave, ensure it wasn’t FMLA-covered serious condition

07/21/2017
The FMLA doesn’t cover minor illnesses, and employers are free to punish employees who miss work because of them. However, employers do have an obligation to investigate further if the employee reports she received medical treatment and followed call-off rules.

Take control of hourly abuse! Just banning off-the-clock work isn’t enough

07/21/2017
If you’re like most employers, you want to control who works overtime and when they do it. You no doubt have a sternly worded policy addressing the issue in your handbook. But a strong policy is only half the battle.

Sometimes you simply must fire whistleblower

07/21/2017
Occasionally, it may become clear that a whistleblower needs to be fired for reasons entirely unrelated to his protected activity. That requires careful thought, because the employee may claim that his termination was retaliation.

Details matter when documenting discipline

07/19/2017
Smart employers make sure they document—in advance—the underlying reasons for any disciplinary actions. When preparing documentation, be sure to provide all the details, especially if two employees committed arguably similar offenses but were punished differently.

Address job-hunting key employee with care

06/30/2017
If you learn a key employee is job hunting, you might be tempted to try to persuade him to stay. Be careful what you say. Asking the worker to stop looking and making even vague promises of continued employment may backfire if you have to terminate the employee later.

Must we allow unlimited breaks for mothers to express breast milk?

06/28/2017
Q. An employee just came into HR demanding that we provide her with unlimited breaks for expressing milk. Is this true? She said she read it at the Minnesota Department of Labor website.

Most of Minneapolis council supports $15 minimum wage

06/28/2017
Although no specific ordinance is before the Minneapolis city council, more than half its members have publicly stated they support a $15 an hour minimum wage.

DOL recovers 401(k) funds for St. Paul company employees

06/28/2017
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefit Security Administration, Weinhagen Tire employees’ retirement contributions took an illegal detour into the St. Paul company’s operating accounts.

Check filing deadline on employee’s EEOC complaint

06/28/2017
When the EEOC dismisses a former employee’s complaint and then notifies you that it has issued a right-to-sue letter, be sure to note the employee’s deadline for filing a federal lawsuit. She has just 90 days to do so.