Minnesota Statutes Labor, Industry (Ch. 175-189) § 181.217. Enforcement

Subd. 3. Civil action by nursing home worker. (a) One or more nursing home workers may bring a civil action in district court seeking redress for violations ofsections 181.211to181.217or of any applicable minimum nursing home employment standards or local minimum nursing home employment standards. Such an action may be filed in the district court of the county where a violation or violations are alleged to have been committed or where the nursing home employer resides, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, and may represent a class of similarly situated nursing home workers.

(b) Upon a finding of one or more violations, a nursing home employer shall be liable to each nursing home worker for the full amount of the wages, benefits, and overtime compensation, less any amount the nursing home employer is able to establish was actually paid to each nursing home worker, and for an additional equal amount as liquidated damages. In an action under this subdivision, nursing home workers may seek damages and other appropriate relief provided bysection 177.27, subdivision 7, or otherwise provided by law, including reasonable costs, disbursements, witness fees, and attorney fees. A court may also issue an order requiring compliance withsections 181.211to181.217or with the applicable minimum nursing home employment standards or local minimum nursing home employment standards. A nursing home worker found to have experienced retaliation in violation ofsection 181.216shall be entitled to back pay and reinstatement to the worker's previous position, wages, benefits, hours, and other conditions of employment.

(c) An agreement between a nursing home employer and nursing home worker or labor union that fails to meet the minimum standards and requirements insections 181.211to181.217or established by the board is not a defense to an action brought under this subdivision.