Legal Complaints in the Workplace
An employee has the right to make a complaint to internal human resources or to an outside entity about workplace discrimination, harassment, or other illegal conduct. Outside entities can include the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or law enforcement, and the law protects employees that make a complaint so long as they do so in good faith, even if ultimately it is determined that an employer did not engage in unethical or illegal activity.
Relatedly, employees are also protected by state and federal law who cooperate as witnesses in an investigation about harassment, discrimination, or other illegal activity in the workplace. An employer is not allowed to retaliate against a worker who makes a complaint or who participates in an investigation about a complaint made by another employee. Employees who are retaliated against for these actions can seek damages from their employer, and an experienced Walnut Creek retaliation for complaints lawyer can help.
What is Employer Retaliation?
Employer retaliation comes in many forms, but generally speaking retaliation is any adverse employment action taken by the employer against their employee for engaging in a legally protected activity, such as filing a complaint or participating in a complaint investigation. Employer retaliation can range from the subtle, like altering work hours or assigning an impossible workload, to the extreme, where an employee is fired for their protected activity. Some of the most common examples of workplace retaliation include the following:
- Altering work hours
- Assigning impossible workloads
- Reassignment to a undesirable location
- Disciplinary action
- Poor performance reviews
- Demotion
- Refusal to promote
- Refusal to train
- Refusal to provide mentorship opportunities
- Suspension
- Wrongful termination
If any of these actions have happened to you after making a complaint about your employer, you may be entitled to compensation for the harm caused by their adverse employment actions. Damages may include back and front pay, reinstatement, promotion, income and benefit increases, and more.
Contact Our Walnut Creek Retaliation for Complaints Lawyers
Did you make a complaint against your employer about harassment, discrimination, or other illegal or unethical acts and are now facing retaliation because of it? If so, the Walnut Creek retaliation for complaints lawyers at Venardi Zurada, LLP are here to take on your case. Call the office at (833) 893-6763 or contact us online today to speak with one of our knowledgeable employment law attorneys and schedule an evaluation of your claims.
