Throughout the United States, countless employees suffer inconsistent, unfair and unpleasant treatment at work and California is sadly no exception. All too often, employers take advantage of their workers, knowing that they need the work and cannot risk losing their jobs. Other employers are simply negligent, allowing staff to be persecuted or mistreated at work by other employees and failing to rectify the situation when they are made aware of it.
It can be hard to know what to do when faced with such circumstances. You may fear that reporting the issue could make things worse or even lead to you being fired. Equally, you might be worried that you may not be believed or that your problems may not be taken seriously. However, your employer has a legal obligation to provide a safe working environment and to work to resolve or confront any issues causing conflict between staff.
Your employer cannot simply turn a blind eye to your concerns, nor can he or she fire you for your complaints without risking legal action. Retaliatory discharge is against the law, so if you suspect you have been dismissed for such a reason, then you might want to seek compensation. It could even be possible to have your position reinstated.
If you are being unfairly treated at work in any way, you might find our page on employee rights helpful. An attorney may also be able to assist you and advise you about your employer’s obligations toward you. He or she may also be able to support you through this difficult time as you weigh up whether to make a claim against those responsible for your mistreatment.