Have you ever felt unfairly treated at work? It’s important to know that sometimes this could actually be something called retaliation, which is a serious issue. Before thinking about any legal steps, it’s crucial to talk to a lawyer to understand the difference between retaliation and just being treated unfairly.
What is Retaliation?
Retaliation in the workplace happens more often than you might think. The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) gets lots of complaints about it every year.
But what exactly is retaliation at work? According to the EEOC, it’s a bit more specific than just being treated badly for any reason. There are three big things that need to happen for it to be considered retaliation:
- You Stood Up for Your Rights: This means you did something like complaining about unfair treatment or discrimination at work, which is called a “protected activity.”
- Your Employer Reacted Negatively: After you stood up for your rights, your employer did something bad to you, like not giving you a promotion you deserved, suspending you, or even firing you.
- The Negative Reaction Was Because You Stood Up: Your employer’s bad action came because you did the protected activity.
If you ever complain about unfair treatment or discrimination at work, you should be able to do so without being scared of losing your job or being punished. If you’re treated badly because you complained, that could be retaliation. This includes things like not getting a promotion, losing job benefits, being demoted, suspended, or fired.
To make a case for retaliation, you need to show proof. This can be tough, but with a good lawyer, like those at Thunderbird Law, you can find the evidence you need.
What is Unfair Treatment?
Unfair treatment at work means you’re being treated badly, like not getting promotions or benefits, being demoted, suspended, or fired, and it’s not because you complained about discrimination. This can happen for no good reason at all, and it’s important to know it’s different from retaliation.
What Should You Do?
If you think you’re being unfairly treated or facing retaliation at work, the first step is to talk to a lawyer. They can help you understand your rights and what you can do about it. Remember, it’s always better to get help and advice before moving forward with any legal action.
Understanding the difference between retaliation and unfair treatment can be confusing, but it’s important to protect your rights at work. If you’re facing these issues, don’t hesitate to seek professional advice to guide you through your next steps.
J. Horowitz leverages over two decades of experience as a seasoned employment law attorney in Arizona to offer insightful freelance writing on the same subject. After a successful career advocating for fairness and justice in the workplace, J. now dedicates his expertise to writing comprehensive articles, blog posts, and thought leadership pieces that illuminate the complexities of employment law.