Veterans Alliance is privately owned and operated to serve veterans. We are not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Veterans Alliance — Veterans Alliance
← All Minnesota benefits
employmentstate

A Veteran in Public Employment Cannot Be Fired Without a Hearing

Once past any initial probationary period, a veteran holding a position in Minnesota state civil service, or with a county, city, town, school district or other political subdivision, may be removed only for incompetency or misconduct SHOWN AFTER A HEARING, on due notice and written charges. The employer must give written notice of the intent to discharge and of the right to a hearing. The trap is the clock: FAILING TO REQUEST THE HEARING WITHIN 30 DAYS WAIVES REINSTATEMENT. Arbitrator lists come from the Bureau of Mediation Services.

Verified August 27, 2026

What this benefit is

Once past any initial probationary period, a veteran holding a position in Minnesota state civil service, or with a county, city, town, school district or other political subdivision, may be removed only for incompetency or misconduct SHOWN AFTER A HEARING, on due notice and written charges. The employer must give written notice of the intent to discharge and of the right to a hearing. The trap is the clock: FAILING TO REQUEST THE HEARING WITHIN 30 DAYS WAIVES REINSTATEMENT. Arbitrator lists come from the Bureau of Mediation Services.

What it's worth: Removal only for incompetency or misconduct shown after a hearing

  • It covers state civil service and county, city, town, school district and other political subdivision positions.
  • It applies AFTER any initial probationary period.
  • Removal requires incompetency or misconduct SHOWN AFTER A HEARING, on due notice and written charges.
  • The employer must give written notice of intent to discharge and of the right to request a hearing.
  • FAILING TO REQUEST THE HEARING WITHIN 30 DAYS WAIVES REINSTATEMENT. This is the step that loses the protection.
  • Arbitrator lists come from the Bureau of Mediation Services.
  • There is no residency test — the protection turns on the employment.

Who is entitled to it

  • You served in the U.S. armed forces.
  • Your separation was under honorable conditions.
  • You hold a Minnesota public position.
  • Minnesota public employment.

Not sure whether that describes you?

Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.

How to claim it

Deadline: Request the hearing within 30 days of notice
  1. 1If you receive notice of intent to discharge, request the hearing IN WRITING immediately. The 30 days is the whole protection.
  2. 2Keep proof of when you sent the request and when the notice arrived.
  3. 3Ask for the written charges. The employer must state incompetency or misconduct, not a general dissatisfaction.
  4. 4Ask the Bureau of Mediation Services for the arbitrator list.
  5. 5Speak to your County Veterans Service Officer or a lawyer at once. Do not wait for the hearing date to prepare.
Form
Written request for a hearing to the employing body
File with
Your employing public body
Documents you will need
dd214
No renewal
Once granted it does not need renewing.
Worth knowingThe thirty days runs from the notice, not from the last day of work. Request the hearing even if you are still hoping the matter resolves informally.

Sources

This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.