What is Retaliation? 4 Signs of this Illegal Trend
Retaliation occurs when an employer punishes an employee for engaging in a legally protected act.
In 2020, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reported that 55.8% of complaints they received were related to retaliation after an employee reported a sexual harassment incident.
Retaliation is a trend far too common in toxic workplace cultures. Even with the spread of remote work, or work from home, retaliation is still a possibility.
Retaliation may seem innocent, and oftentimes, victims may feel like it’s just “part of the job.” If you believe, or someone tells you, that you are being retaliated against at your job, it’s important to contact an employment attorney to help with your case.
Some common acts of retaliation include:
● Termination or demotion – some employees will see their job title change to a lesser or smaller role. Sometimes, they are let go of all together. This is often done with no real rhyme or reason except for the fact that the employer is retaliating against an employee for engaging in a protected activity.
● Reduced pay or benefits – some employees will be offered a change in salary, such as a lower hourly rate.
● Denial of promotion or denial of pay increase – similar to reduced pay, employees may be denied certain benefits after making a claim.
For example, a seasoned employee who has been with a company longer goes up for a promotion, but they are denied any traction to move forward. However, an employee who has spent less time at the company who lacks required experience is offered the promotion.
● Getting transferred to another position or location – employers may even go as far as trying to move their employees. One may find themself asked to switch positions, or even move to a different office.
Employees may also find themselves victims to other circumstances such as:
● Being frequently reprimanded
● Verbal and physical abuse
● Spreading false or overexaggerated rumors
Imagine a situation where a worker suffers an injury. After a long recovery, they are able to return to work with some changes to their job per doctor’s orders. However, as a result, they are demoted to a lower role with less pay or their employment is terminated.
Disabilities are a protected class. This employer may be retaliating against the employee after the changes were required for their job.
There are both state and federal laws that protect your right to report misconduct.
You can legally report misconduct including:
● Harassment
● Unsafe working conditions
● Labor code violations
● Company violation of the laws
● Being asked to engage in discriminatory or otherwise illegal activity
If you reported one of these incidents at your workplace and are being retaliated against, you may have a claim. The Los Angeles employment attorneys at C&B Law Group are here to help with your case.
Our employment attorneys have helped victims of retaliation recover damages as a result of discriminatory practices. With years of experience, our attorneys at C&B Law Group help our clients every step of the way through a retaliation case. We vow to work to work with you to deliver justice
There are many federal and state laws in place to help protect your rights. This doesn’t mean employers will always follow the law. You shouldn’t have to live in fear of any retaliatory responses from your place of employment.
With decades of combined experience, our attorneys continuously strive to help victims of workplace retaliation. We work on a contingency fee basis, so our legal services for your case are 100% free until we are successful.
Furthermore, your initial consultation with C&B Law Group is free as well. Contact an employment attorney today.
