MINNESOTA

EMPLOYMENT LAW

REPORT

The Minnesota Employment Law Report is our award – winning blog offering expert insight to the business community concerning employee relations, labor law, employee benefits, employment litigation and much more.

Congress Passes Law Invalidating Forced Arbitration Agreements for Sexual Assault/Harassment Claims

Janell Stanton

Who said bipartisanship was dead? In a rare display of bipartisanship, the House and Senate have passed the “Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021”…

Minnesota Courts Still Require Severe or Pervasive Conduct in Hostile Work Environment Claims

Dennis J. Merley

For more than 30 years, Minnesota courts have followed federal law in ruling that hostile work environment sexual harassment is actionable only if the behavior is sufficiently severe or pervasive…

5 Things Every Employer Should Do In the #MeToo Era

Sara Gullickson McGrane

In the wake of the #MeToo movement, the modern workplace requires more respect, greater transparency and quicker action to avoid unsavory headlines and costly litigation. Allegations of impropriety can quickly…

Ouster of McDonalds CEO Likely to Generate a McFlurry of Workplace Romance Policies

Dennis J. Merley

The McDonalds Board of Directors was not “lovin’ it” when they learned that CEO Steve Easterbrook was involved in a romantic relationship with an employee. In fact, he was let…

If There is Nudity on TV, Employer Discretion is Advised

Dennis J. Merley

An employee had a decidedly chilly response to some nude scenes on the Netflix program showing on the break room TV. Did she properly channel her anger by alleging a…

Employee’s Notes About Workplace Behavior Help Establish Harassment Claim

Dennis J. Merley

A federal district judge in Arizona has ruled that the mere fact that an employee kept notes of her interactions with co-workers was proof enough that she found those interactions…

(Whisper) Did You Hear The One About The Manager Who Spread a Sex Rumor and Ended Up in Court?

Dennis J. Merley

The promotion of a female employee sparked rumors about how she slept with her supervisor to get the job. The manager’s decision to spread those rumors and then fire the…

States Are Beginning to Require Sexual Harassment Training

Grant T. Collins

In the wake of the #MeToo movement, legislatures throughout the country have begun mandating sexual harassment training for all (or nearly all) workers and supervisors. At present, five states (California,…