Sometimes employees witness wrongdoing in their places of work. Many choose to do nothing for fear of jeopardizing their employment, but others decide to speak out about this wrongdoing. It is praiseworthy to step up and do the right thing when we see something wrong. However, it is quite understandable to ignore these behaviors in order to save our jobs.
Some examples of wrongdoing that employees may choose to report include workplace discrimination, sexual harassment and unfair wages to name just a few. These are called “protected activities,” and an employer may not retaliate against a worker for reporting such wrongdoing. However, as we all know, some people decide to go ahead and engage in employer retaliation when workers do something that their boss does not like.
Unfortunately, it can be difficult to spot employer retaliation. In many cases, retaliatory behaviors are subtle and elusive. We hope to help workers in Pennsylvania spot these actions by sharing several warning signs that could indicate retaliation.
If you feel you are experiencing any of the behaviors below, we urge you to seek a legal opinion. An employment attorney can help you sift through the elements of your situation to determine if you are a victim of workplace revenge. Examples of retaliatory behavior include:
- Giving you frequent and/or unwarranted reprimands
- Reassigning you to a less desirable position
- Being verbally or physically abusive
- Making your work life more difficult
- Terminating you because you have engaged in protected activities
Employer retaliation is 100 percent illegal in the United States. This means that you have the right to take legal action against any party that has retaliated against you. We invite you to browse our employment pages if you need further information.
