2-18-621. Unlawful termination -- unlawful payments. - Montana Statutes

     2-18-621. Unlawful termination -- unlawful payments. (1) It is unlawful for an employer to terminate or separate an employee from employment in an attempt to circumvent the provisions of 2-18-611, 2-18-612, and 2-18-614. If a question arises under this subsection, it must be submitted to arbitration as provided in Title 27, chapter 5, as if an agreement described in 27-5-114 is in effect, unless there is an applicable collective bargaining agreement to the contrary.
     (2) (a) An employee who terminates employment is entitled to receive only:
     (i) payments for accumulated wages, vacation leave as provided in 2-18-617, sick leave as provided in 2-18-618, and compensatory time earned as provided in the rules or policies of the employer; and
     (ii) if the termination is the result of a reduction in force, severance pay and a retraining allowance as provided for in 2-18-622.
     (b) An employee who terminates employment may not receive severance pay, a bonus, or any other type of monetary payment not described in subsection (2)(a)(i) or (2)(a)(ii).
     (3) Subsection (2) does not apply to:
     (a) retirement benefits;
     (b) a payment, settlement, award, or judgment that involves a potential or actual cause of action, legal dispute, claim, grievance, contested case, or lawsuit; or
     (c) any other payment authorized by law.

     History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 131, L. 1949; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 152, L. 1951; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 350, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 121, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 360, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 476, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 62, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 479, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 59-1001(5); amd. Sec. 22, Ch. 684, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 126, Ch. 61, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 341, L. 2007.