Texas Work Retaliation Lawyer
If your employer has punished you for complaining about discrimination or harassment, you should consult a work retaliation lawyer El Paso, TX. The treatment you’re facing is unfair and you don’t have to put up with it forever. A lawyer can stand up for your legal rights.
Defining Workplace Retaliation
Retaliation in the workplace occurs when an employer attempts to punish an employee for participating in a legally protected activity. For example, if you complain to your employer that you’re being sexually harassed by a supervisor, he or she may argue that you’re just trying to start trouble and retaliate against you.
Retaliation can also occur after filing for workers’ compensation. Although it’s well within your right to file a claim after you sustain an injury at work, some employers can become angry and punish their employees for it.
Common Types of Workplace Retaliation
Workplace retaliation can come in many forms, including:
- Termination: Although it’s illegal to fire an employee for engaging in a legally protected activity, it doesn’t stop some employers from trying this. If you, for example, have complained multiple times about being discriminated against for your age and your employer fires you for it, you should speak to a work retaliation lawyer in El Paso, TX.
- Verbal Abuse: If you have spoken up about your employer’s potential wrongful actions, other coworkers may feel pressured to put you down. You may face verbal abuse from your coworkers, making it uncomfortable to go into work every day.
- Exclusion: If your employer doesn’t like what you said, he or she could also try to leave you out of meetings, group lunches and other work-related functions.
- Post-Employment Retaliation: Believe it or not, it’s possible to be retaliated against even after you quit your job. For instance, let’s say you use your former supervisor as a reference for a new position. Even if this supervisor isn’t someone you confronted, he or she may have disapproved of your actions and not give you a good review.
What to Do If You Suspect Retaliation
If you think that your employer is retaliating for an action you took, you should first express your concern to your human resources department. If they can’t give you a legitimate reason for your supervisor’s actions, you should state that you believe you’re being retaliated against. If your employer isn’t willing to rectify the situation, it may be time to involve the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
If you are facing retaliation at work, schedule a meeting with a work retaliation lawyer in El Paso, TX, call Davie & Valdez, P.C., today.