Tennessee Employment Law

The Tennessee Human Rights Act prohibits employment discrimination based on race, creed, color, religion, sex, age (40+), national origin, and disability. The Act covers employers with eight or more employees (five or more for disability discrimination). Complaints must be filed within 365 days with the Tennessee Human Rights Commission. Tennessee does not include sexual orientation or gender identity as protected classes at the state level.

The Tennessee Public Protection Act prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who refuse to participate in or remain silent about illegal activities. The Act covers all employers with one or more employees and provides a private right of action for employees who are discharged for refusing to participate in or for refusing to remain silent about activities that the employee reasonably believes to be illegal. It is Tennessee's primary whistleblower statute for private-sector employees.

Prohibits employers from discharging, threatening, or otherwise penalizing employees for jury service; employers with 5+ employees must continue regular pay during jury service.

Provides employees of employers with 100+ employees up to four months of unpaid leave for pregnancy, childbirth, nursing of an infant, and adoption; requires reinstatement to the same or similar position.

Requires employers with 15+ employees to provide reasonable accommodations for known pregnancy-related limitations absent undue hardship; predates the federal PWFA.

Prohibits private employers from discriminating against employees because of any physical, mental, or visual disability that does not affect the employee's ability to perform the duties of the position.

Prohibits employers from discharging or terminating an employee solely for refusing to participate in, or remain silent about, illegal activities — applies to both public and private employees.