Minnesota labor and employment law deals primarily with the relationship between employers and unions. Minnesota labor and employment law education and training includes a broad range of issues, such as hiring and firing practices, medical leave, overtime, worker safety standards and wages.

Minnesota labor laws are prohibited from interfering with federal labor laws or guidelines produced by federal agencies. Employer/employee relations were brought to the federal level in 1935 with the National Labor Relations Act (NRLA). Employers and employees may have their relationships governed by state laws if they are not subject to the NRLA. There are three steps to learning about labor and employment laws in Minnesota:

1. Formal education. An attorney who practices labor laws in Minnesota will typically need at least a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from a law school that is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).
2. Specialization. Attorneys can choose to specialize by taking legal training that is specific to labor and employment law in Minnesota.
3. Membership in professional organizations. There are many organizations of attorneys based on their area of specialty, such as labor and employment law.
   

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Attend a law school that specializes in training labor lawyers in Minnesota

There are a variety of universities in Minnesota that provide training in labor and employment law, such as specific coursework, a formal concentration or legal clinics.

I recommend: The University of Minnesota Law School provides a concentration in employment and labor law for both its J.D and LL.M students. Hamline University School of Law provides a legal clinic in employment discrimination mediation representation.

Obtain Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit for Minnesota labor law attorneys

Minnesota requires attorneys to stay current on changes in employment law with CLE courses. There are a variety of education and training programs in Minnesota that provide CLE credit in labor and employment law.

I recommend: Minnesota CLE provides a variety of courses in labor and employment law that carry CLE credit in Minnesota. The Minnesota Board of Continuing Legal Education provides a search capability for approved CLE courses by legal specialty.

Learn through professional training associations on Minnesota employment laws

Professional associations frequently offer formal training such as conferences, seminars and workshops in employment and labor law. These organizations also provide more casual meetings that allow attorneys to exchange tips on building and maintaining a practice.

I recommend: The Minnesota State Bar Association provides training that is dedicated to labor and employment law in Minnesota. The Minnesota Lawyer has a calendar of events that includes courses on employment law.

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• •  Minnesota labor law attorneys should also be alert for educational opportunities that do not provide CLE credit but nevertheless provide important information on labor and employment law. A typical event of this type might consist of watching a specific legal issue being reenacted by actors followed by a legal analysis in a relaxed atmosphere.

Employment laws in the United States, including employment laws in Minnesota, have changed dramatically in just the last 100 years. Guidelines are stricter and more encompassing, looking out for the welfare of everyone from disabled workers to nursing mothers.

Adhering to these state and federal laws is just as essential to the success of your business as what you produce, how you market it and how you relate to customers. Because if your employees aren't treated well, productivity is likely to suffer, and should a staff member file a complaint or a lawsuit, you could very well lose your company.

There are some simple ways to stay compliant with labor laws in Minnesota:

1. Give every employee a handbook that clearly defines your expectations and policies.
2. Provide intensive training to all managers to ensure they understand and comply with all employment laws.
3. Find labor lawyers in Minnesota to review your human resources and hiring practices.

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Stay up to date on Minnesota employment laws

Staying current on Minnesota employment law is actually quite easy. The state and federal agencies that oversee labor standards make it simple to find the latest information and stay informed of any changes, by designating special sections on their websites just for employers, and by offering brochures and publications you can download for yourself and your employees.

I recommend: Search the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry website for labor standards information, including the current minimum wage, and overtime and child labor laws. At GovDocs, order Minnesota labor law posters you can post in break rooms or other areas where employees gather.

Turn to Minnesota employment law firms for guidance

If an employee files a complaint against your company, you'll want to enlist the aid of a Minnesota labor law attorney, who can represent you in court or help put together a settlement. Even more importantly, Minnesota labor law attorneys can help you prevent lawsuits, by educating your staff on basic Minnesota labor laws, and by reviewing your human resource policies and employment procedures to ensure everything is compliant.

I recommend: Find MN employment law firms through the Minnesota State Bar Association, or through Minnesota Employment Lawyer.com.

Consult human resource experts for advice on Minnesota labor law

Successfully complying with Minnesota labor and employment law requires more than a textbook knowledge of Minnesota employee rights. You also need to understand the complexities of implementing the many, and frequently changing laws. You also need to know how to educate your entire staff on what these laws mean to them, and you need to create a workplace that's flexible enough to respond to these guidelines as they change.

I recommend: At HR Hero, sign up for free e-zines and alerts regarding employment law, and at the HR Specialist, sign up for Case in Point, a free e-alert and blog featuring weekly updates on real employment law cases.

Tips & Tactics

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• •  Incorporate MN employment law education into your human resource and workplace practices, by instituting training that all employees undergo, when they're first hired and periodically during their time there. This will help prevent violations, and possibly save you the time and expense of calling in consultants to train everyone if an incident has occurred.

Minnesota labor and employment law news and trends are of great interest to attorneys who practice employment law in Minnesota. Employment law attorneys must keep track of the frequent changes in the law that relate to unions and laborers in Minnesota. They also need to be familiar with the many procedures and forms related to labor and employment law that may change at any time. Attorneys also need to know what the public thinks about rulings on labor and employment law in Minnesota. All of these highly volatile factors can change the way attorneys in labor law do their jobs.

News on employment laws in Minnesota generally may be grouped according to the source of information. These include following three categories:

1. Independent sources of news on Minnesota labor laws. They provide opinions, as well as hard news, on labor law from many different businesses, individuals and lobby groups. Independent news sources typically consist of blogs, magazines and newspapers.
2. Websites from the Minnesota state government. These sites provide official procedures and rulings on Minnesota labor law.
3. Labor lawyers. Attorneys that practice labor and employment law in Minnesota frequently have inside news on labor law in Minnesota.
   

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Study independent sources of news and trends on Minnesota employment law

News organizations frequently report on legislative updates on Minnesota labor and employment law. Individuals also may keep blogs and journals on labor law in Minnesota.

I recommend: Digital Journal has a recent article on labor law violations in Minnesota. The Minnesota Independent reports on charges of labor law violations by the Starbucks Workers Union.

Review state websites to get official news and other information on employment laws in Minnesota

Minnesota government websites are the best places to get the latest news about Minnesota labor and employment law. A Minnesota website also may publish the state statutes to help attorneys stay informed on the latest legislation that relates to Minnesota labor and employment law.

I recommend: The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry posts news releases on employment and labor laws in Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development has current news on a variety of labor law topics in Minnesota.

Get inside news on work laws from labor lawyers in Minnesota

Minnesota employment law firms frequently have information on Minnesota law that is not available elsewhere. These attorneys may publish newsletters or full length articles on a particular aspect of labor and employment law in Minnesota.

I recommend: Gray Plant Mooty provides articles on employment and labor laws in Minnesota, such as the Employee Free Choice Act. Mansfield Tanick & Cohen has publications and articles on employment law in Minnesota.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Minnesota employment laws are generally guided by federal law, which set the standard work week to 40 hours in 1950. However, some lines of work may be an exception to the 40 hour work week maximum. For example, seasonal work, such as harvesting crops, can require laborers to work 72 hours in a week.

An examination of Minnesota labor and employment law for beginners will allow you to protect the interests of both your business and employees. The general intent of these labor and employment laws is to level the playing field between labor and management.

Minnesota labor laws may refer to federal and state statutes. Federal laws specify the workers' rights to organize and generally have precedence over most state labor and employment laws. However, federal laws usually don't apply to agricultural workers, domestic employees and government employees. State labor laws may generally be placed in one of the following three categories:

1. Minnesota employment laws on wages and benefits. Many states have laws giving a minimum wage that is higher than the federal standard and also provide laws that protect workers excluded by the Fair Labor and Standards Act (FLSA).

2. Display requirements for labor law posters. Minnesota employers must prominently display posters in the workplace with specific information on federal and Minnesota labor laws.

3. Workers compensation insurance. Minnesota has minimum coverage requirements for employees who experience work-related injuries. Employers frequently consult with Minnesota employment law firms to ensure their worker's compensation insurance coverage is adequate.

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Learn about Minnesota employment law that regulates minimum wage and overtime

According to Minnesota labor law, businesses must pay their employees the greater of the state or federal minimum wage. Overtime laws generally control what an employee should be paid after 40 hours of work in the same week.

I recommend: The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry provides the current state minimum wage for each type of employee. Gaebler.com provides the current minimum wage in Minnesota, as well as other basic information on wages.

Find out how to display posters on employment laws in Minnesota

Minnesota labor law posters keep employees informed of their rights and obligations under federal and state labor laws. Employers must display these posters in the workplace in a visible location where they are easy to read.

I recommend: LaborLawCenter provides the display requirements for labor law posters and has other quick facts on Minnesota employment law. National Safety Compliance has the latest updates on the Minnesota requirements for labor law posters.

Provide workers' compensation insurance required by Minnesota labor laws

Workers' compensation insurance in Minnesota protects employees and their families in the event of injury or death of the employee while on the job. Government websites, insurance agencies and labor lawyers in Minnesota commonly have basic information on workers compensation.

I recommend: The Minnesota Workers' Compensation Insurers Association provides basic information on carriers of workers' compensation insurance in Minnesota. Workers Compensation Insurance.com offers a summary of the workers' compensation laws in Minnesota.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Minnesota labor laws generally assume that employees who are not covered by an employment agreement are 'at will' employees and may be fired without notice or cause. However, 'at will' employees may be protected from termination due to certain actions, such as whistle blowing organizing unions.