According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), workplace retaliation is one of the most common charges filed with the agency. In 2016, of the nearly 100,000 claims the EEOC received, over 45 percent were related to workplace retaliation. California took a spot among the top three states with the highest number of claims related to retaliation.
Workplace retaliation occurs when an employer punishes an employee for engaging in legally protected activities. Retaliation can take many forms, from demotion to being passed over for promotion to a reduction in salary, even going as far as wrongful termination. But it can be difficult to determine whether an employer has actually committed unlawful retaliation. That is one reason why it is important to discuss your case with an attorney if you believe retaliation has occurred.
What Do I Do If I Believe I Have Been the Victim of Workplace Retaliation?
It can be difficult to fight back against a boss or supervisor when you believe you’ve been retaliated against. Many workers are content to ignore retaliation for fear of greater penalties at work, but as a Californian and an American, you have the right to be protected from retaliation. Your first step in addressing the problem is to speak to your supervisor or human resources representative, but often, higher-ups and employers will deny that retaliation occurred.
If your employer seems to have retaliated against you for reporting unlawful acts or for another protected act, speak to one of our California employment law attorneys. Our firm has defended countless victims of workplace retaliation and we are prepared to use our legal expertise to provide aggressive representation to these aggrieved workers.