Like most states in the country, Minnesota is an employment “at will” state. In general employment law, this means any employee can quit for any reason under normal circumstances. The employer can also terminate an employee but only for a reason that isn’t illegal. This means they shouldn’t fire someone due to discrimination based on race, creed, ancestry, religion, age, disability, color, sex, national origin, marital status, or sexual orientation.
Employment contracts are legally binding agreements between both parties as they set the rights and responsibilities of the employee relationship. However, the employer can also fire the employee for legal reasons such as a breach of the employment contract. In this case, the agreement you signed may have some clauses and terms that explained how long you’ll be employed as well as the policies of termination. This means the employer may not have broken any law if you failed to meet the expectations of the contract you signed. However, it may be considered a breach of contract if you believe your employer failed to comply with the signed contractual agreement.
Employment contracts typically detail the employer and prospective employee’s expectations of the position being filled. They include several aspects of the nature of the employment relationship, including training, job responsibilities, set hours of work, employment benefits, compensation, and so on. Of course, they can also include the terms of the separation of the employment relationship if it needs to be terminated.
The employer can also fire an employee at any time for any reason or sometimes for no reason. And while there are several exceptions to the at-will rule, people can still be unaware of how some employers may use illegal actions when firing employees. If you think you were terminated for any illegal reason, you need an employment attorney to represent your case.
Whether you believe you were wrongfully terminated or just need legal advice, you need to work with a trusted attorney specializing in Minnesota general employment law. Call RWI Law today at (612) 564-3242 for a free consultation! You can also complete our convenient online form so that we’ll get back to you.