Fair Housing Public Education Events

May 2012

The North Dakota Department of Labor is a recent recipient of a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to conduct public outreach and education regarding rights and responsibilities under Fair Housing laws.

One component of the grant permits the Department to partner with Legal Services of ND to conduct public education events throughout the western part of the State. The first event took place in Bismarck in April. Upcoming events are scheduled in Watford City on Thursday, May 17 and in Williston on Friday, May 18. Details regarding plans in Minot and Dickinson are being made and will be posted when finalized.

Fair Housing Month

April 2012

Governor Jack Dalrymple has proclaimed April 2012 Fair Housing Month in North Dakota. The proclamation recognizes the State's commitment to fair housing and coincides with the anniversary of the enactment of the Federal Fair Housing Act.

Paid Time Off Law Changes

August 2011

Effective August 1, 2011, state law regarding the handling of paid time off upon separation from employment has changed.

Previously, once paid time off was made available for an employee's use, any unused portion of such time was considered wages upon separation from employment and was to be paid at the regular rate of pay earned prior to separation.

The newly added section of law, N.D.C.C. 34-14-09.2, specifies:

If an employee separates from employment voluntarily, a private employer may withhold payment for accrued paid time off if:

1. At the time of hiring, the employer provided the employee written notice of the limitation on payment of accrued paid time off;
2. The employee has been employed by the employer for less than one year; and
3. The employee gave the employer less than five days' written or verbal notice.

For more information, please visit the Laws and Rules page of our website or contact us.

Educational Presentations

At the North Dakota Department of Labor, we believe that educating the public about labor and human rights laws is one of our most important responsibilities. This responsibility encompasses educating people about their individual rights and helping employers and service providers understand their rights and responsibilities in order to prevent violations of law.

As part of the Department of Labor's commitment to public education, department staff provide educational presentations throughout the year. Topics are as diverse as the department's jurisdiction and include: wage and hour information such as overtime, deductions from pay, breaks, and paid time off; youth employment; independent contractor status; and human rights laws in the areas of employment discrimination, housing discrimination, and discrimination in public services and public accommodations.

To request information or to schedule a speaker from the department, please contact us.

Commissioner of Labor Tony J. Weiler discussed wage and hour information in Dickinson, ND.