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Church's Misrepresentations Do Not Get Former Employee Unemployment Benefits

By Howard M. Friedman

In Irvine v. St. John's Lutheran Church of Mound, (MN Ct. App., March 9, 2010), a Minnesota appellate court held that a former business administrator of a church was not entitled to unemployment compensation benefits even though the church's employment handbook indicated the church paid unemployment taxes and implied that employees would receive unemployment benefits if they lost their job through no fault of their own. Under Minnesota's statutes, church employees are eligible for unemployment benefits only if the church elects coverage. Here the church did not elect coverage. Incorrect representations to employees regarding coverage are not binding on the state. [Thanks to Chris Duckworth for the lead.]

Full post as published by Religion Clause on March 11, 2010 (boomark / email).