State and federal labor laws protect employees from retaliation in the workplace. It is illegal for employers to punish an employee for reporting, resisting, or opposing their unlawful conduct. Some employers do not respect these laws and try to get away with their unethical behavior. Whether you have been terminated, or withheld opportunities in the workplace due to protected conduct, you should find out about your legal rights under those circumstances by contacting a California retaliation attorney.
There are retaliation company policies together with state and federal laws that prohibit employers from retaliation against workers when they seek to protect their legal rights, report employment violations, and go to court or serve as a witness. Retaliation can come in a variety of illegal ways such as:
When an employer retaliates against someone at work, the employee can either file a complaint with the government or hire an attorney to file a lawsuit. The employee must prove the employer who broke the law, as in the majority of cases it is not clear whether or not the employer engaged in the illegal behavior. Only the government agency where the claim was filed or your attorney can decide if your employer disrespected the code of conduct. If you have been the victim of workplace retaliation, you should take action with an experienced attorney on your side as these are complex cases involving many details.
Retaliation can take many forms such as giving unjust negative reviews, taking unjustifiable disciplinary actions against employees, withholding raises and promotions, among countless others. Sometimes employees are exposed to stressful circumstances where they have to perform a physically demanding task without appropriate compensation. All these acts of retaliation are illegal.
In some cases, workplace retaliation is obvious. If you have been terminated from your job, this is easier to identify as a possible case of retaliation. Similarly, if your employer responds to you exercising your legal rights by making you work in intolerable conditions in an effort to get you to resign, this could be a case for wrongful constructive termination.
However, other forms of employer retaliation can be more subtle and harder to identify. Some of the most obvious signs that an employer could be retaliating against you include the following:
Workplace retaliation cases can become complicated, particularly because the person who experiences retaliation likely does not have the resources necessary to fully investigate the case. A skilled workplace retaliation lawyer in California will be able to use their resources to:
Importantly, your retaliation attorney in California will be able to give you straightforward information about your case. Retaliation cases are sensitive, and they are emotional for the person who has experienced these wrongful actions. A skilled attorney will understand what you are going through and walk you through every step of the process.
Any complaint alleging discrimination or retaliation in violation of federal or state law must be filed within six months after the occurrence of the alleged discrimination or retaliatory action. However, there are exceptions to this six-month period.
For complaints of retaliation for taking time off work due to being the victim of sexual assault, stalking, or domestic violence, these claims must be filed within one year from the date of the alleged retaliation.
Additionally, claims related to equal pay violations must be filed within two years from the date of the alleged retaliation. Retaliation based on health and safety code violations must be filed within 90 days after the retaliation occurs.
At The Kaufman Law Firm, we are happy to take cases involving retaliation in the workplace. We have been protecting the rights of wronged employees in California for over two decades. We can prove that retaliation occurred and you should be compensated for it.
If you have suffered retaliation for reporting any discriminatory or harassing acts, contact us today and schedule your initial case evaluation with California retaliation attorney Matthew A. Kaufman. We settle for nothing less than the best outcome for our clients.
Your job is more than just a source of income. It is a major part of your lifestyle. If you have been the victim of wrongful termination, wrongful demotion or any kind of discriminatory business practices, it is time to take action and contact a Ventura employment law attorney that can help. Attorney Matthew A. Kaufman and the team at The Kaufman Law Firm bring experience and a vast arsenal of legal resources to help clients recover the money they deserve.
To learn more, contact our California law office today and schedule an initial evaluation to discuss your case.