Montana

Key facts

EEOC filing deadline

300 days (FEPA work-sharing state)

State agency deadline

1 year to HRB

Employer coverage

1 or more employees

State law

Montana Human Rights Act; Montana Wrongful Discharge from Employment Act (WDEA)

State court statute of limitations

1 year under WDEA; 3 years for HRA claims

Additional protections beyond federal law

• •Marital status
• •Physical or mental disability (broader than ADA)

How it works

Montana has a work-sharing agreement with the EEOC. A charge filed with Montana Human Rights Bureau is generally also considered filed with the EEOC ("dual-filed"), and vice versa. You usually only need to file once.

Key notes

Montana is the only state in the country that does not have at-will employment for employees who have completed a probationary period. Under the Wrongful Discharge from Employment Act (WDEA), employers must have "good cause" to fire a non-probationary employee. This is a fundamental departure from employment law in every other state and gives Montana workers significant additional protection against arbitrary termination.