Montana employment law compliance requirements

Private and public employers of all sizes must grant a reasonable leave of absence to pregnant employees. Employers are prohibited from terminating an employee due to pregnancy or refusing to grant maternity leave.

Mont. Code Ann. § 49-2-310 · effective Jul 1983 · source

Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination prohibited under Title VII.

42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2 · effective Jan 2020

Prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq. · effective Jan 2020

WARN notices must include: whether closing/layoff is permanent or temporary, expected date, whether bumping rights exist, name/contact for company representative.

29 U.S.C. § 2102 · effective Jan 2020

Applicable Large Employers (50+ full-time and full-time-equivalent employees) must offer affordable, minimum-value health coverage to full-time employees and their dependents or risk an employer shared responsibility payment.

26 U.S.C. § 4980H · effective Jan 2015

Agreement must advise employee to consult with attorney

29 U.S.C. § 626(f)(1)(E) · effective Oct 1990

Eligible employees entitled to 12 weeks unpaid leave

29 U.S.C. § 2612(a)(1) · effective Aug 1993

Employers must maintain anti-harassment policies

42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2 · effective Jul 1964

When an employee is discharged, all unpaid wages are due immediately (within 4 hours or by the end of the business day), unless the employer has a written policy extending this to the next regular payday or within 15 days.

Mont. Code Ann. § 39-3-205(1) · effective Jul 2001 · source

Employees 40+ must be given 21 days to consider individual severance agreements

29 U.S.C. § 626(f)(1)(F)(i) · effective Oct 1990

Employees 40+ in group terminations must be given 45 days to consider

29 U.S.C. § 626(f)(1)(F)(ii) · effective Oct 1990

Employees 40+ must be given 21 days to consider a separation agreement that includes a release of age discrimination claims.

29 U.S.C. § 626(f)(1)(F) · effective Jan 2020

In group terminations, employees 40+ must be given 45 days to consider a separation agreement.

29 U.S.C. § 626(f)(1)(H) · effective Jan 2020

Employers must provide 60 days advance notice of plant closings (50+ employees) or mass layoffs (500+ or 50-499 if 33% of workforce).

29 U.S.C. § 2101 et seq. · effective Jan 2020

60 days advance notice for plant closings and mass layoffs

29 U.S.C. § 2102 · effective Feb 1989

Montana is the only state that rejects the default 'at-will' employment doctrine after an employee completes a probationary period. Employers may only discharge an employee after the probationary period for 'good cause.'

Mont. Code Ann. § 39-2-904 · effective Jul 2021 · source

Montana law voids any contract that restrains anyone from exercising a lawful profession, trade, or business, making non-compete agreements generally unenforceable against employees.

Mont. Code Ann. § 28-2-703 · effective Mar 1947 · source

Montana employers must pay tipped employees the full state minimum wage. Employers are prohibited from using tips as a credit toward their minimum wage obligations.

Mont. Code Ann. § 39-3-409 · effective Jan 2024 · source

Federal minimum wage rate

29 U.S.C. § 206(a)(1) · effective Jul 2009

Applicable Large Employers (50+ full-time and full-time-equivalent employees) must file annual information returns (Forms 1094-C and 1095-C) with the IRS and furnish Form 1095-C to each full-time employee.

26 U.S.C. § 6056 · effective Jan 2015

Private employers with 100 or more employees (and certain federal contractors with 50 or more) must annually file the EEO-1 Component 1 Report with the EEOC, reporting workforce demographic data by job category, sex, race, and ethnicity.

42 U.S.C. § 2000e-8(c) · effective Jan 1966

Employees 40+ must have 7 days to revoke after signing

29 U.S.C. § 626(f)(1)(G) · effective Oct 1990

Overtime pay for hours worked over 40 in a workweek

29 U.S.C. § 207(a)(1) · effective Oct 1938

Group terminations must disclose job titles and ages of affected employees

29 U.S.C. § 626(f)(1)(H) · effective Oct 1990