Veterans
Preference Act: Removal
Forbidden
State of Minnesota
The State of Minnesota has long recognized the
contributions which veterans have made to both our State and Nation.
One of the forms that this recognition takes is the protection
afforded veterans under the Veterans Preference Act, especially as it
applies to a veteran who is being discharged.
This protection applies only to those veterans who
are employed by a political subdivision of the State of Minnesota; such
as a county, city or municipality.
It does not apply to those employed by the State or the private
sector.
Basically, a veteran can be removed only for
cause, such as incompetence or misconduct, AFTER the veteran has been
offered a dismissal hearing. Further,
the veteran must be served written notice of the employer's intent to
discharge and the reasons for the intended discharge.
The veteran then has sixty (60) days from the date
of the dismissal notice to request a hearing on the proposed dismissal.
If the veteran does not request a hearing within the sixty-day
limit, the veteran forfeits all rights to such a hearing under the
Veterans Preference Act and the employer is free to discharge the
veteran.
The veteran must request this hearing in writing
and must provide this written notice either by mail or personal
delivery to the employer.
There are other considerations to the Veterans
Preference Act; however, the above information is enough upon which to
base a determination whether or not your rights as a veteran have been
violated. If you feel that
your rights to a dismissal hearing under the Veterans Preference Act
have been violated, you should contact your
County Veterans Service Office or the Minnesota Department of Veterans
Affairs.
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