Were You Wrongfully Terminated After Being Injured At Work?
Last updated on September 9, 2026
After your serious on-the-job injury, did your supervisor or employer discourage you from seeking workers’ compensation benefits or take action against you after you filed a claim? If your workers’ compensation claim played a role in your termination, you may have legal rights worth protecting.
If you were laid off after a work injury in Minnesota, we at Bosch Heacox Law Firm can protect your rights. We are committed to standing up for employees who have unfairly lost their jobs after getting hurt at work. We represent the underdogs in these cases with skill and determination. Our Minneapolis area wrongful termination attorney, Gerald W. Bosch, brings more than 25 years of experience to cases involving wrongful termination after a workplace injury. For a free consultation, call 651-333-8300. Based in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, we serve clients throughout Minnesota.
What Does Minnesota Law Say About Your Rights?
Minnesota law protects an injured worker’s ability to pursue workers’ compensation benefits without facing employer retaliation or interference. An employer may violate the law by discouraging you from applying for benefits or terminating you after you apply. Other laws, including the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), may also apply in some situations.
Employers have been known to claim that a worker was terminated for a reason other than his or her application for workers’ compensation benefits. Once the employer has stated its reason for firing the employee, we compare that reason to how the employer has treated other employees in similar situations. This can help identify whether the stated reason for termination is consistent with how the employer has treated others. We can often root out false reasons for terminating employment and present a strong, well-documented case.
Common Scenarios Of Wrongful Termination After A Work Injury
Wrongful termination does not always happen immediately after you file a workers’ compensation claim. An employer may also change your working conditions or pressure you to give up your claim. Depending on the circumstances, these actions may point to retaliation when they connect to your work injury or workers’ compensation claim.
Examples include:
- Losing your job after asking about or filing a workers’ compensation claim
- Being terminated while on medical leave
- Getting fired because a work-related injury limits the work you can do
- Reduced hours or elimination of overtime
- Unfavorable schedule changes
- Pay cuts or reductions in benefits
- Harassment or hostile treatment from management
- Negative performance reviews that contradict prior evaluations
- Pressure or threats to drop a workers’ compensation claim
Pressure to return to work before you are ready may also raise concerns. Our guidance on pressure to return to work before you are ready explains more about your rights in that situation.
Work injuries can range from spinal cord injuries and broken bones to repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome and work-related mental health disorders such as PTSD. Employers are often more likely to wrongfully terminate employees who have mental health conditions or repetitive stress injuries. If your injury limits the work you can perform, learn more about work restrictions after an injury.
Legal Protections Against Wrongful Termination
Minnesota’s workers’ compensation law provides specific protections when employees exercise their right to pursue benefits. Minnesota Statute §176.82 allows employees to pursue damages when an employer fires or threatens to fire them for pursuing workers’ compensation. The statute also prohibits intentionally interfering with an employee who seeks those benefits.
Workers also worry that an employer could blacklist them after a workers’ compensation claim by discouraging another employer from hiring them. If a former employer tries to interfere with your ability to find work because of your claim, that conduct may raise concerns under §176.82.
Think Your Employer Is Retaliating Against You?
Retaliation can be difficult to recognize, especially when an employer gives another reason for its actions. Call Bosch Heacox Law Firm at 651-333-8300 to discuss what happened and learn whether you may have a legal claim against your employer.
Steps To Take If You Were Wrongfully Terminated
Losing your job is a frightening experience, especially if you were already injured or suffering from health issues. Here are some steps to take:
- Gather evidence: Keep records showing when you reported the injury, along with medical records and a timeline of what happened at work and when you lost your job.
- Talk to a lawyer: Seek a legal opinion as soon as you can. Different claims can have different deadlines. If you are unsure whether you need legal help, learn more about when to consider hiring a workers’ compensation attorney.
- Consider filing a complaint: Where you file may depend on the reason for your claim. You may wish to contact the Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Division about a workers’ compensation matter.
A discrimination claim may also involve an administrative filing with either the Minnesota Department of Human Rights or the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
How Bosch Heacox Law Firm Can Help
Our workers’ compensation lawyer has a wealth of experience handling wrongful termination cases related to workplace injuries. We offer a personalized, hands-on approach. You can expect to receive clear guidance with open lines of communication throughout your case. We will work diligently to uphold your rights and secure the legal protections you deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions About Retaliation
Here are answers to common questions you may have about wrongful termination and retaliation.
Can an employer blacklist me after filing a workers’ comp claim in Minnesota?
Blacklisting a worker by discouraging a future employer from hiring them may raise a workers’ compensation retaliation issue. Minnesota Statute §176.82 prohibits discharge or threats of discharge for seeking workers’ compensation benefits and intentional obstruction of a worker seeking those benefits. If a former employer has tried to interfere with your ability to find work because of your claim, the circumstances may warrant legal review.
What counts as retaliation besides being fired?
Depending on the circumstances, retaliation can take forms beyond termination. Changes to your hours, pay, schedule or treatment, as well as pressure to drop your claim, may raise a retaliation issue if they are connected to your workers’ compensation rights.
Is there a deadline to file a retaliation claim in Minnesota?
For a claim under Minn. Stat. §176.82, Minnesota courts have held that a six-year limitations period applies. Other claims arising from the same situation may have different deadlines.
Injured At Work In Minnesota? Contact Us For A Free Consultation.
If you believe your employer retaliated against you for filing a workers’ compensation claim, Minnesota law may allow you to recover damages resulting from a violation, along with reasonable attorney fees and costs. In some circumstances, the law also permits punitive damages.
Do you have questions about your wrongful termination? Contact us to schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced lawyer. Call us at 651-333-8300. You can also email us. Home and hospital visits are available upon request. Our law firm’s contingency fee policy means that you owe no attorney fee unless we win your case.
