2025 Session Last amended: 2019 session

§ 177.32 — Penalties

Plain-Language Summary

An employer who violates Minnesota's Fair Labor Standards Act commits a misdemeanor. Violations include paying below minimum wage, refusing to allow required rest breaks, obstructing investigations, falsifying records, or failing to post required notices. An employer who retaliates against an employee for filing a wage complaint or testifying in a proceeding faces a fine of $700 to $3,000.

177.32 PENALTIES.

Subdivision 1.Misdemeanors.

An employer who does any of the following is guilty of a misdemeanor:

(1) hinders or delays the commissioner in the performance of duties required under sections 177.21 to 177.435, 181.01 to 181.723, or 181.79;

(2) refuses to admit the commissioner to the place of business or employment of the employer, as required by section 177.27, subdivision 1;

(3) repeatedly fails to make, keep, and preserve records as required by section 177.30;

(4) falsifies any record;

(5) refuses to make any record available, or to furnish a sworn statement of the record or any other information as required by section 177.27;

(6) repeatedly fails to post a summary of sections 177.21 to 177.44 or a copy or summary of the applicable rules as required by section 177.31;

(7) pays or agrees to pay wages at a rate less than the rate required under sections 177.21 to 177.44;

(8) refuses to allow adequate time from work as required by section 177.253; or

(9) otherwise violates any provision of sections 177.21 to 177.44. §

Subd. 2.Fine.

An employer shall be fined not less than $700 nor more than $3,000 if convicted of discharging or otherwise discriminating against any employee because:

(1) the employee has complained to the employer or to the department that wages have not been paid in accordance with sections 177.21 to 177.435;

(2) the employee has instituted or will institute a proceeding under or related to sections 177.21 to 177.435; or

(3) the employee has testified or will testify in any proceeding.

History:

1973 c 721 s 12; 1982 c 424 s 54; 1983 c 209 s 4; 1984 c 628 art 3 s 11; art 4 s 1; 1Sp1985 c 13 s 281; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 559 s 2; 2009 c 78 art 5 s 5; 1Sp2019 c 7 art 3 s 6

History: History: 1973 c 721 s 12; 1982 c 424 s 54; 1983 c 209 s 4; 1984 c 628 art 3 s 11; art 4 s 1; 1Sp1985 c 13 s 281; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 559 s 2; 2009 c 78 art 5 s 5; 1Sp2019 c 7 art 3 s 6

Practical Notes

When this applies: When an employer violates any provision of sections 177.21 to 177.44. Who this affects: All Minnesota employers. Key points: Criminal penalties apply to employers who pay below minimum wage, refuse required breaks, block inspections, falsify or refuse to provide records, or repeatedly fail to post required workplace notices. Retaliation against employees who complain about wages or participate in proceedings carries an additional fine of $700 to $3,000. These criminal penalties are in addition to the civil remedies available under section 177.27.

Source: Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes