Federal law protects employees who engage in activities to avoid harassment or unsafe working conditions, including reporting harassment or participating in an investigation against the employer. However, some employers will act against those employees to punish them for their actions. If you find yourself dealing with retaliation after a protected activity, contact a Mar Vista workplace retaliation lawyer as soon as possible. An employee rights attorney could ensure your rights are protected and prevent future retaliation.
Employees have the right to engage in protected activities without facing backlash from their employers. According to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, these include:
If you have engaged in any of these activities, your employer cannot retaliate against you. A skilled attorney in Mar Vista understands employment laws and could help determine whether you are experiencing workplace retaliation.
While certain activities are protected and your employer cannot punish you for them, some employers may engage in behavior to discourage future reports or accommodations. A Mar Vista workplace lawyer could provide more information about whether your employer is engaging in retaliation or another illegal activity.
Some employers may escalate abuse or harassment in an effort to discourage future reports or push an employee out of the office after reporting negative behavior. Harassment can create an unsafe or hostile workplace that encourages employees to leave their positions.
Some employers may try to punish employees who have engaged in a protected activity by changing their hours, benefits, or wages. In some cases, this may mean giving an employee a less desirable schedule, like swapping them to the night shift when it is inconvenient for them to work those hours. It may also include decreasing their hours or even taking them off the schedule for a period of time.
Denying earned benefits often means not letting an employee take earned time off. However, it can also mean taking away access to other benefits or perks that are considered a standard part of the position.
Some employees may be demoted directly as a result of engagement in a protected activity. Others may be passed over for promotions or opportunities, including participation in desirable projects.
Some employers may issue negative performance reviews against an employee who has engaged in a protected activity despite the fact that the employee has not shown any signs of poor behavior or has had issues with their work.
Even if an employer does not engage in direct action against an employee, they may threaten negative performance reviews or changes to the employee’s status or opportunities. These threats are often intended to deter future participation in similar activities.
Some employers, rather than retaliating directly against an employee, may try to target a family member. This is meant to pressure the employee indirectly.
An attorney could gather evidence to prove workplace retaliation and build a strong claim against the employer.
If you have faced retaliation in the workplace following engagement in a protected activity, do not suffer in silence. A Mar Vista workplace retaliation lawyer could help stop the behavior and, in many cases, help you recover compensation for damages sustained due to the retaliation. Get in touch with Employee Civil Rights Group today to discuss your rights.
