Employment-at-Will Doctrine is Alive and Well in Minnesota

A divided Minnesota Supreme Court has reaffirmed longstanding precedent holding the presumption of the employee-employer relationship in Minnesota is “at-will.” Dukowitz v. Hannon Security Services, No. A11-1481 (Minn. Jan. 2, 2014). This means that either the employee or the employer can terminate the relationship with or without cause and with or without notice. The Court further held it will continue to make only narrow exceptions to the at-will rule, refusing to make such an exception for an employment termination following an employee’s application for unemployment benefits.