Settlement requires company to pay employee $180,000 and make changes to prevent future discrimination
2/19/2026 8:57:58 AM
[St. Paul, MN] The Minnesota Department of Human Rights today announced a settlement agreement with a Minnesota-based company that transports specialty products worldwide, after an investigation found the company violated Minnesota’s civil rights laws by discriminating against and firing an employee because of his race and national origin.
Under the settlement, the company is required to pay the former employee $180,000. The company must also take steps to strengthen its anti-discrimination systems and programs.
“Immigrant communities are confronting cruel and dehumanizing treatment, and while we cannot stop every act of racism and xenophobia, we will use every tool available under state law to hold businesses accountable and protect fundamental civil rights for Minnesotans,” said Minnesota Department of Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero. “No one should be targeted, mistreated, or pushed aside at work because of their race or where they come from. This settlement sends a strong message: discrimination is illegal, and we will enforce state civil rights laws to ensure that people can live and work in dignity.”
Under the Minnesota Human Rights Act, it is unlawful for employers to discriminate against a person because of their race or national origin. This protection includes discrimination in hiring, firing, pay, or any terms or conditions of employment because of race or national origin.
Harassment in the workplace based on race and national origin – which often looks like harassment against immigrants – may violate the Minnesota Human Rights Act when it makes the workplace hostile or abusive. Harassment could include the use of slurs like “illegal,” or pejorative remarks like “go back to your country,” or “speak English.” Threats to call immigration authorities can constitute harassment or retaliation when motivated by discriminatory intent.
For more information on rights under state law, visit our website.
An investigation by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR) found that between April and July 2022, the transportation company fostered a hostile work environment where an employee was repeatedly insulted by a coworker with racist stereotypes and harmful tropes about the employee’s accent and his country of origin.
The employee reported the harassment to his supervisor, who failed to investigate or address the harassment. Instead of taking steps to address the discriminatory behaviors, the company allowed the behavior to continue, and they continued to schedule the employee with the harassing coworker. The company then fired the employee and claimed they did so for performance issues, but had no evidence to back up those claims.
Based on the evidence, the Department of Human Rights concluded that the company violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act by allowing discrimination to occur and terminating the employee because of his race and national origin.
In the settlement, the company agreed to pay the employee $180,000, strengthen its anti-harassment training and reporting protocols, and log and share any employee discrimination complaints with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.
If you believe you have been discriminated against, contact the Department of Human Rights by submitting this form.
The Minnesota Department of Human Rights is the state’s civil rights enforcement agency and is responsible for enforcing the Minnesota Human Rights Act, one of the strongest state civil rights laws in the country.
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