Retaliation

When you report illegal conduct, you’re doing the right thing—but unfortunately, some employers try to punish employees who speak out. If you’ve been demoted, fired, transferred, or mistreated after reporting discrimination, harassment, wage violations, or unsafe working conditions, you may be the victim of illegal retaliation.

Retaliation can take many forms, including:

• Termination or wrongful firing
• Demotion or transfer to a less favorable position
• Reduction in hours, pay, or responsibilities
• Exclusion from opportunities for advancement

Facing retaliation at work can leave you feeling isolated, powerless, and anxious about your future. When you’ve taken a stand against discrimination, harassment, or other unlawful conduct, you have the right to expect protection from your employer—not punishment. Unfortunately, many employers break this trust, retaliating against employees for exercising their legal rights, or speaking up when they see wrongdoing. If you’re facing retaliation at work, you don’t have to endure it alone. Our experienced employment law attorneys are here to fight for your rights and hold employers accountable for their unlawful actions.

At My Labor Rights, we’re dedicated to protecting employees who’ve been wronged. Our aggressive approach and deep understanding of employment law make us the trusted choice for workers who refuse to be silenced. If you’ve been subjected to wrongful termination, demotion, harassment, or other adverse actions as retaliation, our skilled network of retaliation attorneys will be your unwavering advocates.

Employers may think they can get away with it, but they’re wrong. Our legal team knows how to identify retaliation, and we’ll take swift action to protect your rights and your livelihood.

What is Retaliation in the Workplace?

Retaliation occurs when an employer takes adverse action against an employee for engaging in a protected activity. Federal and state laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), prohibit employers from punishing employees who report illegal behavior, participate in an investigation, or exercise their employment rights.

Common examples of workplace retaliation include:

• Wrongful Termination: Firing an employee for filing a complaint or reporting misconduct.
• Demotion: Reassigning an employee to a lower-paying or less desirable position.
• Reduction in Pay or Hours: Cutting hours or pay as a form of punishment.
• Harassment or Hostile Work Environment: Subjecting an employee to intimidation or a toxic work environment.
• Negative Performance Reviews: Fabricating poor performance reviews to justify disciplinary action.
• Denial of Promotions or Opportunities: Blocking promotions, transfers, or other career advancement opportunities.

If you’ve experienced any of these actions after reporting illegal conduct, you may have grounds for a legal claim. Our employment law attorneys will carefully assess your case to determine if retaliation occurred and pursue the justice you deserve.

Protected Activities That Shield Employees from Retaliation

Federal and state laws protect employees from retaliation when they engage in specific activities. These “protected activities” include:

• Filing a Discrimination or Harassment Complaint: Reporting racial, gender, age, disability, or other forms of discrimination.
• Whistleblowing: Reporting illegal conduct, fraud, safety violations, or financial mismanagement.
• Requesting Reasonable Accommodations: Seeking accommodations for disabilities or religious practices.
• Taking Family or Medical Leave: Requesting leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for illness or caregiving.
• Participating in Workplace Investigations: Acting as a witness or providing statements during an internal or external investigation.

If you believe you’ve been punished for engaging in these activities, you’re not alone. Our experienced attorneys for workplace retaliation are committed to standing up for employees’ rights and fighting back against illegal employer conduct.

How Do You Prove Workplace Retaliation?

To successfully prove a claim of retaliation, you’ll need to establish three key elements:

1. Engagement in a Protected Activity: You reported discrimination, requested leave, or engaged in another legally protected activity.
2. Adverse Employment Action: Your employer fired you, demoted you, reduced your pay, or took other adverse action against you.
3. Causal Connection: There is a direct link between your protected activity and the adverse action taken against you.

Proving this connection can be challenging, as employers often disguise retaliation as legitimate business decisions. Our experienced network of employment law attorneys know how to identify and expose this deceit. We gather evidence such as email communications, witness statements, and employer records to prove your employer’s actions were retaliatory.