Reporting illegal activity shouldn’t jeopardize your job. Unfortunately, honest employees don’t always receive fair treatment. It’s unlawful for employers to use retaliation. These same protections exist for those who oppose illegal company activities.
What Is Retaliation?
Workplace retaliation is any adverse action an employer takes against an employee engaged in a protected activity. Many things qualify as protected activities. Protected activities include filing a harassment, discrimination, or unpaid wages complaint against your employer.
Examples of adverse actions:
- Being fired, laid off, or demoted
- Being reassigned to objectionable or risky job duties
- Being passed over for promotions
- Having your pay reduced, benefits terminated, and hours cut back
- Receiving negative performance reviews despite causing any job-related performance issues.
California law protects employees from workplace retaliation — but safeguards aren’t only for complaint filers. This state also protects anyone participating in post-complaint investigations. Because of that, any employees interviewed regarding a complaint can’t be retaliated against for their participation.
Contact a workplace retaliation attorney for further information about specific protections.
Retaliation and Compensation
A successful verdict in a retaliation case makes you eligible to collect economic losses. Exact amounts vary case by case. Losses can include back payments you would have received had your employer not fired you, demoted you, or reduced your hours.
Sometimes, employees may also qualify to collect compensation for pain and suffering and to cover attorney-related costs. In rare cases, receiving a successful outcome in a retaliation case can result in you receiving punitive damages.
However, punitive damages are tough to prove. Punitive damages must show an employer acted with fraud, oppression, or malice. Ask your retaliation lawyer what damages apply to your situation.
You may be able to recover:
- Back pay
- Front pay
- Emotional damages
- Punitive damages (only in cases involving genuinely egregious violations of the law)
Should You Seek Out Retaliation Lawyers?
If you were the victim of retaliatory employment practices or other work-related injustices, contact Melmed Law Group now. Lawsuits can be complex. This confusing situation becomes more accessible with help from a workplace retaliation attorney. A seasoned attorney can utilize their experience and knowledge to maximize your case’s value.
How Much Does an Attorney Cost?
We operate on contingency. That means no attorney’s fees unless we successfully represent you. If we provide successful representation, your attorney receives a percentage of what’s recovered after your case.
Were you or a loved one a victim of unlawful treatment at work? Melmed Law Group can help. Contact us to have a team of experienced retaliation lawyers in your corner. Melmed Law Group can also help secure compensation for your suffering.