Several federal laws prohibit employment discrimination and protect employees from retaliation when they exercise their rights under these laws.
Several federal laws enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, protect employees from discrimination in the workplace. Additionally, these laws protect employees from retaliation when an employee exercises his or her rights under one or more of these laws.
If you aren’t sure what retaliation is, consider the following definition by the EEOC. According to this agency, “Retaliation occurs when an employer, employment agency, or labor organization takes an adverse action against a covered individual because he or she engaged in a protected activity.”
Essentially, if you oppose employment discrimination in a lawful manner, your employer is not allowed to treat you poorly because of it. If you think you are a victim of retaliation, don’t hesitate to contact an employment attorney.
“Adverse Action” in Retaliation Cases
An employer who engages in an adverse action is, essentially, taking revenge. Adverse actions in retaliation cases include, but are not limited to,:
Termination
Refusal to hire
Denial of promotion
Threats
Unjustified negative evaluations or references
Increased surveillance at work
Adverse actions do NOT include:
Occasional negative comments justified by poor work performance or history
Stray negative comments in an otherwise positive or neutral evaluation
Speak to an employment attorney if you are unsure whether or not your employer’s actions would be considered adverse actions in a retaliation case.
“Covered Individual” Status in Retaliation Cases
An individual is covered when he or she (1) lawfully opposes an employment practice he or she believes to be discriminatory, (2) participates in an employment discrimination proceeding, or (3) requests a reasonable accommodation related to employment discrimination on the basis of a protected class such as race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability. In addition, those with a close association with a covered individual are protected. For example, an employer cannot demote an employee because her spouse participated in an employment discrimination lawsuit.
“Protected Activities” in Retaliation Cases
Federal laws protect you from retaliation if you:
Complain to anyone about the alleged discrimination
Threaten to file and/or file a charge of discrimination
Picket in opposition to a discriminatory practice
Refuse to obey an order you believe to be discriminatory
Participate in an investigation of the alleged discrimination
Serve as a witness in an investigation or during litigation
Request a reasonable accommodation
Protected activities do NOT include illegal acts such as threats of violence or actions that interfere with your work performance by rendering you ineffective as an employee.
Speak to a KM&A Attorney about Retaliation
Wondering whether you have a case? If you think your employer retaliated against you for engaging in a protected activity, contact us right away. We offer free and immediate consultations with an experienced employment attorney who can discuss the particulars of your case with you and explain what legal remedies are available to you. For example, you may be able to file a retaliation complaint,bring a lawsuit against your employer, and collect damages.
We believe that, in order to aggressively pursue our clients’ interests, we have to be extremely accessible. Don’t hesitate to contact us by phone in Pittsburgh at 412-626-5626 or in Philadelphia at 215-618-9185. We can also be reached by email at lawyer@lawkm.com. We represent clients across Pennsylvania.
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