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MNOSHA Compliance: Workplace safety and health discrimination

Discrimination prohibited for employees raising safety, health concerns

Employees are protected from retaliation by their employers for raising health and safety concerns at work and for reporting work-related accidents and injuries.

Employees cannot be discriminated against by their employer for the following safety and health activities:

  • participating in Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA) Compliance safety inspection;

  • making a workplace safety or health complaint or request to management;

  • calling or filing a complaint with MNOSHA Compliance;

  • testifying or providing statements about workplace safety or health hazards; and

  • refusing to perform a task in certain instances that are unsafe or unhealthy.

Examples of discrimination encountered by employees from participating in the above listed safety and health activities include:

  • termination or layoff;

  • suspension;

  • failure to hire or re-hire;

  • documented discipline;

  • denial of benefits;

  • negative performance evaluation;

  • demotion;

  • failure to promote; and

  • reduced hours.

If you believe your employer has discriminated against you because you participated in a protected activity related to workplace safety and health, you may file a complaint with MNOSHA at:

Complaints must be filed with MNOSHA Compliance within 30 days of the date the adverse employment action took place or when you were notified of the adverse employment action.

Types of discrimination not covered by MNOSHA Compliance, resources

MNOSHA Compliance covers safety and health discrimination; it does not have jurisdiction over general workplace biases, such as age, disability, race, religion or sex. Entities that may be able to help with other forms of discrimination include: