{"id":374597,"date":"2017-10-02T15:37:14","date_gmt":"2017-10-02T20:37:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/montana-law\/montana-employment-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-09-10T09:19:39","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T14:19:39","slug":"montana-employment-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/montana-law\/montana-employment-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Montana Employment Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n \n Montana Employment Laws\n <\/h1>\n \n Learn about your state’s laws by using the links below.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Catherine Hodder, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Montana<\/span> employment laws<\/span> protect employees in the state from unfair working conditions, wrongful termination, and workplace discrimination. The state of <\/span>Montana<\/span> is the only U.S. state that is not an \u201cat-will\u201d state. Montana<\/span> employers<\/span> cannot fire workers without cause. Other state laws<\/span> protect Montana<\/span> employees\u2019 rights to equal pay, whistleblower<\/span> protection, and restrict child labor.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Montana<\/span> Department of Labor<\/span> and Industry<\/span> oversees employment laws<\/span> and other work-related laws. Labor laws, affecting collective bargaining<\/span> agreements and union regulations, are a part of employment law<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Montana<\/span> Employment Laws<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Most states follow an \u201cat-will\u201d employment<\/a> policy, which means that an employer or employee may end the employment relationship<\/span> at any time without cause. Montana<\/span> is the only state that does not follow this policy.<\/p>\n

Montana<\/span>\u2019s Wrongful Discharge from Employment Act<\/span><\/a> prevents an employer from terminating an employee without good cause<\/span> after a probationary period<\/span>. The probationary period<\/span> is 12 months, unless a contract or collective bargaining<\/span> agreement states otherwise.<\/p>\n

After the probationary period<\/span>, termination must be for cause. Wrongful termination is any termination without good cause<\/span>, or any termination:<\/p>\n