Retaliation

The EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) has found that employer retaliation is the most frequent allegation against employers and typically takes the form of workplace discrimination and harassment. You have the right to communicate instances of employment discrimination, deny sexual advances, and comply during a workplace investigation.

It is illegal for your employer to punish or harasses you for exercising your legal rights. Federal laws protect employees from employer retaliation and other forms of retaliation in the workplace and clearly outline their protected activities. The same laws that prohibit discrimination based on age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability and genetic information also prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose unlawful discrimination or participate in an employment discrimination proceeding.

The laws make it illegal to fire, demote, harass, or otherwise “retaliate” against employees because they filed a charge of discrimination, because they complained to their employer about discrimination on the job, or because they participated in an employment discrimination proceeding (such as an EEOC investigation or lawsuit). For example, it is illegal for an employer to refuse to promote an employee because she filed a charge of discrimination with the EEOC, even if EEOC later determined no discrimination occurred.

If you feel like you are experiencing retaliation in the workplace, please contact me at (866) 316-0555 or by email at jason@woodsidelawpa.com for a free case review.

Source: eeoc.gov