“Can I sue for sexual harassment?” This is a question we hear a lot from potential clients, and more often than not, our answer has been “No.” This is because in the past, the courts have set a very high bar for what it takes to prove a sexual harassment case. As a...
Employment Law
Can I sue for wrongful termination?
There are many legal claims that a wrongfully terminated employee might be able to pursue, but some of the most common among them are:
– Discrimination Claims
– Retaliation (or Reprisal) and Whistleblower Claims
– Breach of Contract Claims
Are noncompete agreements legal for employees?
In Minnesota noncompete agreements are disfavored, but they are legal if they meet strict standards set by the courts. Before talking about those standards, it is important to define what a noncompete agreement is. A noncompete agreement (sometimes known as a...
What is wage theft?
Under Minnesota law, wage theft occurs when an employer engages in certain actions that deprive an employee of his or her hard-earned wages. For example, wage theft occurs when an employer, with intent to defraud an employee: fails to pay his or her wages, salary,...
Minneapolis Minimum Wage Ordinance OK’d; Merit Drywall KO’d?
Local Minimum Wages OK'dThe Minneapolis minimum wage ordinance has been upheld by the Minnesota Supreme Court. The ordinance was passed in June, 2017, and over time it phases in a $15.00 per hour minimum wage for any employee who performs at least two hours of work in...
Chronic Pain, Macular Degeneration to Qualify for Medical Cannabis
The Minnesota Department of Health has announced that effective August, 2020 chronic pain and macular degeneration will be qualifying conditions under the state's medical cannabis law. Therefore, people diagnosed with those conditions will soon be eligible for medical...
Breaking: New FLSA Salary Requirements Set
The United States Department of Labor announced yesterday its much-awaited final rule increasing the salary requirements for "white collar" exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The final rule will: Raise the "standard salary level" from the currently...
Wage Theft Seminar Announced
Minnesota's new wage theft law began taking effect July 1, 2019. It imposes new record keeping and hiring requirements, plus the potential for fines and jail time for violators.To help employers understand their obligations, Swenson Lervick is hosting a luncheon...
New Wage Theft and Employer Record Keeping Requirements Begin July 1
During its 2019 Special Session, the Minnesota Legislature passed a new law that imposes significant new wage theft, recordkeeping and payroll requirements on employers. These new obligations will go into effect on July 1 (the criminal sanction parts go into...
Registration Open for June 5 Employment Law Update
Registration is now open for the 16th Annual West Central Minnesota Employment Law update to be held June 5, 2019 at Broadway Ballroom in Alexandria, MN.This year's topics and speakers will be:Hot off the Press: Employment Law News You Can Use (Tom Jacobson) 10 Tough...