The summaries below explain federal and Minnesota employment laws in everyday language. They are general information only, not legal advice. Every situation is different. If you believe your rights have been violated, talk to an employment attorney about the facts of your case.
The Minnesota Human Rights Act protects employees based on marital status — whether single, married, remarried, divorced, separated, or widowed. This protection also covers discrimination based on who your spouse is or what your spouse does. For example, the Minnesota Supreme Court held that firing an employee because her husband was about to be fired was illegal marital status discrimination. Strict "no-spouses" rules can violate the Act unless the employer can show a genuine business justification — though a rule against one spouse directly supervising the other may be permissible if truly necessary for the job. The MHRA also prohibits discrimination based on familial status — that is, having or caring for children.
Federal law does not include these protections, which makes them an important feature of Minnesota law.
These summaries reflect the law as described in current legal reference materials and are provided for general education. Laws change, deadlines are strict, and small facts can make a big difference. If you have questions about your specific situation, begin a free case evaluation to discuss your situation.