Halunen Law Blog

Category: BLOG

Halunen Law – Employment
NBA CENTER AND FORMER TIMBERWOLVES PLAYER ANNOUNCES HE IS GAY

Societal attitudes seem to be changing regarding sexual orientation discrimination. For example, the recent defeat of the proposed state marriage amendment confirmed that a majority of Minnesota voters do not believe that a prohibition against same-sex marriage should be codified as a state constitutional amendment. However, many civil rights advocates might agree that more action is required. …

Read More

Halunen Law – Employment
Is It Legal to Be Fired for Selling Girl Scout Cookies?

The sale of Girl Scout cookies has become a national institution. Just like the return of Minnesota Twins baseball, blooming flowers, and March Madness, offerings of Tagalongs, Thin Mints and Dosidos are very common during spring. Those who are reading this post have probably purchased a box from young scouts strategically positioned outside a grocery …

Read More

Halunen Law – Employment
MINNESOTA PROFESSOR ALLEGES WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION

A professor at Macalester College is suing her employer, alleging gender discrimination, as well as race and national origin discrimination under the Minnesota Human Rights Act. The woman is currently a full professor with tenure at the college, teaching creative writing in its English department. However, the professor claims that she was wrongfully denied several promotions …

Read More

Halunen Law – Employment
MINNESOTA STATE AGENCY HAS BACKLOG OF DISCRIMINATION CASES

Minnesota workers are entitled to employment protections under both federal and state laws. In many aspects of employment law, Minnesota is a progressive state, with state laws offering additional prohibitions against certain types of workplace discrimination. The distinction between federal and state laws can be of minimal importance to employees who simply benefit from whichever …

Read More

Halunen Law – Employment
EEOC Reviews Complaints Against Target Corp.

In a recent post, we discussed some of the challenges that those with a criminal record may face in the job market. Today’s story provides context for that struggle with a real life example. Recently, the NAACP and TakeAction Minnesota brought allegations of unfair hiring practices against Target Corp. In ten formal complaints filed with …

Read More

Halunen Law – Employment
SOMETIMES IT PAYS TO GET LAID OFF

Minnesota air travelers may have heard that American Airlines has announced plans for merging with US Airways. The new company will be run by Doug Parker, the current CEO of US Airways Group Inc. However, Minnesota readers don’t need to express any sympathies to American Airlines’ current CEO, Tom Horton. Mr. Horton is expected to …

Read More

Halunen Law – Employment
JANITORS REACH SETTLEMENT IN UNPAID WAGES CLASS ACTION SUIT

Even as news of an improving economy has spurred job growth, it appears that many workers (especially low-wage workers) must fight for the wages they are entitled under law. Minnesota Public Radio recently reported that janitors for Diversified Maintenance Systems reached a settlement in a class action lawsuit filed against the company over unpaid wages. The class, which …

Read More

Halunen Law – Employment
PREGNANCY DISCRIMINATION: WHEN GETTING PREGNANT GETS YOU FIRED.

Although terminating someone’s employment because they are pregnant has been against the law since 1978 when the Pregnancy Discrimination Act was first passed it does not stop some Minnesota employers from blatantly firing someone simply for being pregnant. Take the case of a woman who told her employer she was pregnant at the beginning of …

Read More

Black and white photo of pillars and steps in front of a courthouse
MINNESOTA MAN SETTLES DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION CLAIM AGAINST U.S. BANK

A Minnesota man recently settled a claim alleging that U.S. Bank handled his mortgage loan request in a discriminatory manner. A spokesperson for U.S. Bank says the company denies the existence of disability discrimination but agreed to settle the complaint and pay the man $12,000. U.S. Bank allegedly required the man to provide proof of his disability …

Read More

Black and white photo of pillars and steps in front of a courthouse
MINNESOTA SCHOOL DISTRICT SETTLES RACIAL DISCRIMINATION SUIT

The St. Paul school district recently announced that it has settled a federal racial discrimination lawsuit. The suit was brought by the families of three former students at Heights Community School against the school district, school principal and a sixth grade teacher. The complaint alleges that the teacher disparaged black children and subjected them to …

Read More


Other Categories

Results That Make a Difference

Our Practice Areas
Learn More