ST PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR) says a pet-related business in the north metro is taking steps to improve its anti-discrimination policies following a settlement involving the firing of a pregnant employee.
MDHR says the agreement follows an investigation into the dismissal of Hannah Grell, who was hired by Pet Ranch as a sales associate in Sept. 2022. Pet Ranch operates a business called "Four Paws and a Tail" in Blaine. Investigators said after accepting the position, Grell was issued a uniform and given her upcoming shifts by the general manager. During that meeting, Grell told the GM of her pregnancy, and one hour later was allegedly notified by the owner of Pet Ranch via a voicemail that she had been terminated.
In a news release announcing the settlement, MDHR called the dismissal a clear violation of Minnesota's civil rights law.
“Pet Ranch fired Hannah one hour after learning she was pregnant. This was blatant pregnancy discrimination,” said Minnesota Department of Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero in a released statement. “Hannah had already collected her uniform and gotten her shifts when she was fired. What should have been a happy start to a new job changed quickly because of discrimination.”
“Filing this case with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights was immensely important to me,” Grell said. “It means that in the future if another woman is put through this, they might not be scared to stand up for themselves and their rights.”
As part of the settlement, Hannah Grell will receive $22,000 from Pet Ranch. The company, which previously did not have anti-discrimination policies, will now create and enforce them with training for all employees on creating an inclusive workplace. MDHR will monitor the compliance of Pet Ranch for three years.
The settlement follows another involving a pregnant employee announced in December. MDHR ordered a Coon Rapids dental office to pay a woman three years of wages when they dismissed her after learning she was pregnant with twins.
Pregnancy discrimination has been illegal in Minnesota since 1977. If you feel like you have been discriminated against at work because of a pregnancy or any other reason, contact the MDHR by submitting an online form.
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