Tennessee Right to Work Laws

By Amber Sheppard, Esq. | Legally reviewed by Amber Sheppard, Esq. | Last reviewed March 14, 2025

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Tennessee Right-to-Work Laws

Right-to-work laws prohibit using union membership status as a condition for getting or keeping a job. Employees in states without right-to-work laws must join the labor union if their workplace is part of a collective bargaining agreement. Other labor laws under federal law, like the Wages and Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which governs child labor and minimum wage, still apply.

The state of Tennessee has right-to-work laws, making it an at-will employment work state. Tennesseans can join labor unions. They just cannot be forced to join or pay membership dues in order to get or keep a job. This FindLaw article summarizes the right-to-work laws for Tennessee workers.

Below is a basic summary of Tennessee law with respect to union membership. See FindLaw's Wages and Benefits section for related articles on  Fair Labor Standards Act and National Labor Relations Act.

Tennessee Right-to-Work Code Section

The relevant legal code can be found under Tennessee Code §50-1-201, et seq.

Policy on Union Membership

It is unlawful to deny employment because of affiliation or non-affiliation with a labor union in Tennessee.

Prohibited Activity

Contracts or agreements that exclude someone from employment due to affiliation or non-affiliation with a labor union. Tennessee law prohibits an employer from excluding someone from employment for payment or failure to pay union dues.

Penalties

Violating Tennessee’s right-to-work laws is a Class A misdemeanor. The infringer cannot get less than fifteen (15) or more than sixty (60) years for each offense. A jury could order a fine not to exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). (Tennessee Code §40-35-111; Tennessee Code §50-1-205)

Disclaimer: State laws are constantly changing. Although we make every effort to keep our state laws section up-to-date, you may want to contact a Tennessee labor attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.

Talk to a Tennessee Employment Law Attorney

Whether you believe you were denied sick leave from a private employer or were forced to join an employee organization, a Tennessee employment law attorney could help you determine if you have a case. A Tennessee employment law attorney can also help if your employer discriminates against you. You have civil rights protections, so your employer cannot discriminate against you for protected classes like national origin.

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