Some employees deal with things they shouldn’t have to at work because they’re concerned about what will happen if they file a complaint. One thing that these individuals should remember is that retaliation is illegal when it’s connected to an employee filing a complaint or reporting illegal activities.
There are some important points that employees should remember if they think that they’ve been retaliated against. Understanding these points may help determine your next steps.
How do employers retaliate against employees?
Employers can retaliate against employees in a variety of ways. Retaliation is any negative employment action, which can include:
- Termination
- Pay cuts
- Reduction in hours
- Transfers to a less desirable location or shift
- Harassment
- Unfavorable reviews
The key to being able to make a retaliation claim is that the actions of the employer must be based on the report or complaint made about the illegal activity. The initial report or complaint must be factual, so employees can’t claim retaliation if they’re subjected to negative employment actions because they made a fraudulent complaint or allegation.
Another important point to remember is that employees can face negative actions if they aren’t complying with company rules, even if they did file a complaint about illegal activities. Employees must still do their job and follow company policies even if they blew the whistle on an illegal activity.
If you’re the victim of retaliation in the workplace, you may opt to pursue legal action. Discuss your case with an attorney as soon as possible so that you can find out what options you have. It’s imperative to do this quickly because of time limits in the law.
