Minnesota trucking company fined for firing female driver over “women’s work” stereotype

Source: Minnesota Department of Human Rights

A Minnesota trucking company, Lakes Concrete Plus, has been ordered to pay $45,000 in damagesafter the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR) found that it unlawfully terminated a female concrete truck driver because management believed the job was not “women’s work.”

According to investigators, the driver was told by a manager that she should look for a “more fitting job for women” after being dismissed from her position as a concrete truck operator. The MDHR ruled that this statement, combined with the firing, was a clear violation of state human rights laws that prohibit gender-based discrimination in employment.

As part of the settlement, Lakes Concrete Plus must not only compensate the former driver but also implement workplace reforms to prevent future discrimination. The company is required to train supervisors on gender bias, enforce equality policies, and report its progress to state authorities.

In a statement, the MDHR emphasized that “no job should ever be denied based on gender”, highlighting that women in trucking and construction deserve equal opportunities, respect, and protection under the law.