MN Pet Store Fired Woman After 1 Hour Because She Was Pregnant: State

BLAINE, MN — A Twin Cities-based pet supply company must pay a woman $22,000 after the business fired her for being pregnant, according to state investigators.

The fine is part of a settlement the Minnesota Department of Human Rights reached with Pet Ranch, which operates Four Paws and a Tail in Blaine.

In addition to the financial payout, Pet Ranch must create and enforce anti-discrimination policies and train employees on how to create inclusive workplaces. The state will monitor the company’s compliance with the agreement for three years.

"Pet Ranch fired Hannah one hour after learning she was pregnant. This was blatant pregnancy discrimination," said Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero in a statement.

"Hannah had already collected her uniform and gotten her shifts when she was fired. What should have been a happy start to a new job changed quickly because of discrimination."

In September 2022, Pet Ranch’s owner interviewed Hannah Grell for a sales associate position and offered her the job, which Grell accepted, according to investigators.

Before leaving the store, Grell met with the general manager who gave her a uniform and assigned her shifts, authorities said. During this meeting, Grell informed the general manager that she was pregnant, according to investigators.

Just an hour after accepting the position and receiving her uniform and assigned shifts, Pet Ranch's owner terminated Grell's employment through a voicemail, the state found.

The general manager followed up with a text message to Grell that stated the company "decided to go another route," according to investigators.