After filing a discrimination or harassment claim, the relationship with your employer may grow cold. Or, they might take adverse actions against you for reporting such incidents or testifying in a co-worker’s case.
Filing a discrimination claim is among the activities protected by law, and if you face any form of retaliation, it is essential that you protect your legal rights. Here is more on what you need to know about employer retaliation.
Retaliation can take many forms
Your employer is likely aware that retaliation is unlawful, and therefore, they may be subtle in their actions. As a result, you may not be fired immediately, but your employer could take certain actions that are designed to be punitive.
For instance, you may be switched to a less desirable shift, have your duties reduced or excluded from office meetings you used to attend. Additionally, they may delay a due promotion. In extreme cases, violence or threats may be involved.
How to deal with such retaliation
Does your job have an internal dispute resolution procedure? It should probably be the first place you turn to if the situation allows. However, if the retaliation persists or your employer is unwilling to accept their wrongdoing, you may need to explore your other options. These may include addressing your issues to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) with a choice of suing your employer.
It is important to remember that the burden of proof that workplace retaliation took place is on you. Therefore, you should always document any instances of retaliation by your employer. It is advisable to navigate your case with the necessary legal know-how and information for a desirable outcome since your employer is likely to deny that their actions were retaliatory.