Retaliating against a worker for reporting illegal and inappropriate activity in the workplace is illegal. Employer retaliation is prohibited by both state and federal laws. Employees should enjoy a safe work environment and not fear retaliation when a safe workplace has not been provided and is pointed out. Employees who have been unlawfully retaliated against for reporting sexual harassment, workplace discrimination or for whistle blowing enjoy important legal protections.
Unlawful retaliation can include when an employer terminates an employee for reporting illegal activity in the workplace such as sexual harassment; demoting the employee for reporting unlawful activity in the workplace; altering the employee’s job assignments for reporting unlawful activity in the workplace; altering the employee’s benefits for reporting unlawful activity in the workplace; denying the employee a promotion for reporting unlawful activity in the workplace; and harassment of the employee.
When an employer retaliates against and employee in the workplace for reporting unlawful activity in the workplace they place the employee’s livelihood at risk and can threaten the employee’s job and family. As a result, legal protections are available to help employees who have been retaliated against. It is important that employees are aware of the protections in place to help them and know how to enforce their rights in the workplace when needed.
A sexual harassment, discrimination and unlawful retaliation situation in the workplace can be overwhelming, intimidating and frightening. As a result, it is important for workers to always be familiar with what they can do and how they can respond in circumstances when they have been unlawfully retaliated against in the workplace.