Honoring farmworkers, preventing wage theft and understanding workplace rights



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Wage and Hour Bulletin

"July 2025"

Farmworker Appreciation Day

Farmworkers shaking hands

August 6 is Farmworker Appreciation Day, a time to honor the individuals who help bring food to our tables. Farmworkers are essential to agriculture, often working long hours in challenging conditions. We recognize their contributions and reaffirm our support for their workplace rights, safety and dignity.

Learn more about workplace protections and resources for agricultural workers and employers at dli.mn.gov/agriculture [ [link removed] ]. 



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Minnesota's Wage Theft Prevention Act 

In addition to recognizing farmworkers, it is important to highlight the protections in place for all workers in Minnesota. In 2019, Minnesota passed one of the strongest wage theft laws in the nation to ensure workers are paid fairly and on time. Here is what the Wage Theft Prevention Act [ [link removed] ] requires and how it protects workers.

What employers must do

* Provide a written notice at the time of hire, in English and the employee's preferred languages.
* Give a detailed earnings statement with every paycheck.
* Pay all wages on time, including final wages. Final wages must be paid within 24 hours if an employee is discharged (with written demand) or by the next scheduled payday if they quit.

For additional information about how to make a demand for wages and wage claims, visit dli.mn.gov/wage-claim [ [link removed] ].

Watch a video [ [link removed] ] about preventing wage theft.

What counts as wage theft

Wage theft happens when an employer:


* Fails to pay minimum wage or overtime.
* Requires off-the-clock work without pay.
* Illegally deducts wages (for example, for broken equipment or shortages).
* Withholds tips or service charges meant for workers.
* Misclassifies employees as independent contractors to avoid paying full wages or benefits.
* Pays late or fails to pay altogether.

In Minnesota, intentional wage theft can be charged as a felony if the amount stolen is more than $1,000.

Enforcement and worker protections

The law gives the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) stronger tools to investigate and take actions:


* Wage recovery in 2024 -- about $1.8 million recouped for workers.

* Wage recovery to date in 2025 -- about $1 million, with a 69.52% success rate.

Tips for workers

* Keep copies of your schedules, time sheets and paystubs.
* If something looks wrong, talk to your employer first.
* If problems are not resolved, you can contact DLI's Labor Standards Division at 651-284-5075 or [email protected].

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Wage claim quiz

Keyboard with key for claims

In a previous edition of the "Wage and Hour Bulletin", we outlined the process for filing a wage claim through our office. Now, we invite you to take the wage claim quiz, a short exercise designed to test your knowledge of labor standards. It is a smart way to enhance your understanding and ensure you are informed about your rights in the workplace.


* Take the quiz [ [link removed] ].


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Nursing home workforce standards

Some nursing home workers in Minnesota are covered under the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board Act, established to improve working conditions in the industry. Under this law, the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board [ [link removed] ] has adopted rules on minimum wages and holiday pay.

Holiday pay requirements took effect Jan. 1, 2025, while the minimum wage standards could go into effect as soon as Jan. 1, 2026.

Resources and FAQs about the holiday pay rules, provided by the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board, are available online [ [link removed] ].

Links to the minimum wage standards are also available online [ [link removed] ].

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August featured case

An employee in the construction industry was terminated shortly after disclosing their pregnancy, with the employer citing "poor performance." It was later found the employer had not provided required notices under Minnesota's Women's Economic Security Act (WESA) and earned sick and safe time regulations. This raised a concern of retaliation under WESA. The employer updated a four-year-old handbook to ensure compliance and the employee received back-wages. This case highlights the importance of keeping workplace policies current and clearly communicating employee rights, especially during life events such as pregnancy.


* Learn more about WESA [ [link removed] ].

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National Breastfeeding Month

Mother breastfeeding baby

August is National Breastfeeding Month, a time to celebrate, support and raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding for both babies and families. Across the country, communities come together to promote education, equity and access to lactation support.

In line with this, we want to ensure employees are informed about their workplace rights related to breastfeeding.

*Workplace rights for pregnant and lactating employees:*


* Learn about your rights and available resources for pregnant and lactating employees in the workplace at dli.mn.gov/newparents [ [link removed] ].
* Watch our informational video [ [link removed] ] about pregnancy and parental rights, including expressing milk in the workplace.


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Webinars:  Supporting pregnant and nursing employees in the workplace; Workplace Rights Week

Webinar graphic

*1. Supporting pregnant and nursing employees in the workplace*


* Dates:
* Aug. 6, from 10-11:15 a.m. Register for the webinar [ [link removed] ].
* Aug. 14, from 2-3:15 p.m. Register for the webinar [ [link removed] ].

This webinar will focus on WESA and its impact on employees and employers. We will also highlight National Breastfeeding Month and WESA's protections for nursing employees.

*2. Workplace Rights Week:  Employment protections in Minnesota*


* Sept. 23, from 3-4 p.m. Register for the webinar [ [link removed] ].

Join this one-hour webinar featuring state and municipal agencies discussing employment protections in Minnesota.

*3. Seminario web de la Semana de los Derechos Laborales*


* Martes 23 de septiembre, 5-6 p.m. Regístrate para el seminario web [ [link removed] ]. 


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Question of the month

*What should I do if I believe I was owed back wages from a wage claim but never received a check?* 

If you believe you were owed money for a wage claim but never received a back-wage check from DLI, it is possible your wage claim was processed, but the check was never claimed. When this happens, and DLI cannot locate the employee, the funds are forwarded to the Minnesota Department of Commerce Unclaimed Property Division website [ [link removed] ]. Follow the instructions to see if your unclaimed funds are listed and learn how to claim them.

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"Wage and Hour Bulletin" archive

Access past editions of the "Wage and Hour Bulletin" [ [link removed] ].

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Questions?

Labor Standards serves the people of Minnesota by providing
information about the state's wage, hour and employment laws.

Phone:  651-284-5075 or 800-342-5354
Email:  [email protected]
Website:  dli.mn.gov [ [link removed] ]





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minnesota department of labor and industry [ [link removed] ]

*Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry  |  www.dli.mn.gov [ [link removed] ] *

651-284-5005 or 800-342-5354

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