10 Signs of Retaliation in the Workplace

The Law Offices of James L. Arrasmith
Standing up against employer retaliation, employment discrimination, sexual harassment, and workplace discrimination is crucial for creating a safe and fair workplace for all.

When employers retaliate against employees, it’s a severe problem that can make employees afraid to speak up about misconduct at work. Retaliation can take different forms, like excluding someone from meetings or chances for advancement or even firing or demoting them. Employers need to be aware of the possibility of retaliation and take steps to stop it. This includes having clear policies and procedures, training managers and supervisors, and treating all complaints seriously. Employees must know their rights and should speak up if they think they’re facing retaliation. Taking action quickly can help prevent more harm, protect employees, and make sure employers are held responsible for their actions.

What is Employer Retaliation?

Protecting job applicants from discrimination is crucial in creating a fair and inclusive workplace. By working with the Wage and Hour Division and having clear policies in our employee handbook, we can prevent discrimination and ensure a safe and equitable workplace for all

Employer retaliation occurs when an employer takes adverse action against an employee in response to the employee engaging in a protected activity, such as filing a complaint of discrimination or harassment, reporting a workplace safety concern to file a complaint otherwise, or participating in a union.

Adverse actions can include termination, demotion, negative performance evaluations, reduction in pay or benefits, or other forms of punishment. Employer retaliation is illegal under federal and state laws and can result in legal consequences for the employer. It is important for employees to know their rights and to speak up if they believe they are experiencing retaliation.

10 Signs of Workplace Retaliation

Potentially discriminatory wages, sexual advances, and verbal or physical abuse are all violations of federal law. Let’s work together to create a safe and fair workplace for everyone

Here are 10 signs of alleged harassment and workplace retaliation:

  1. You are being excluded from meetings or important projects without any valid reason.
  2. You are receiving negative feedback or evaluations despite performing well.
  3. You are being given impossible deadlines or workloads.
  4. You are being denied promotion or training opportunities.
  5. Your job duties or responsibilities are being decreased or altered without any valid reason.
  6. You are being isolated or treated differently than other employees.
  7. You are being yelled at, belittled, or threatened by your supervisor or coworkers.
  8. Your work hours or schedule are being changed without your consent.
  9. Your pay or benefits are being reduced without any valid reason.
  10. You are being demoted, suspended, or terminated without any valid reason.

6 Signs of Retaliation at Work

Non-compliance with laws protecting employees requesting accommodations can have a negative impact on workplace culture. Employers must increase scrutiny to ensure compliance and provide a safe and fair workplace for all employees

Here are 6 signs of retaliation at work:

  1. You are being given negative feedback or a poor performance review after filing a complaint or reporting an incident.
  2. Your work duties or responsibilities have been reduced or taken away after reporting an incident.
  3. You are being excluded from meetings or important projects after reporting an incident.
  4. Your work hours or schedule have been changed without your consent after reporting an incident.
  5. You are being harassed or bullied by coworkers or superiors after reporting an incident.
  6. You have been demoted, transferred to a less desirable position, or terminated after reporting an incident.

What Common Activities May Incite Workplace Retaliation?

Regardless of their immigration status, all employees have the right to work in a safe and inclusive environment. Discrimination investigations and policies prohibiting resisting sexual advances help to protect the rights of all employees and create a workplace culture of respect and equality

Common activities that may incite workplace retaliation include:

  1. Filing a complaint of discrimination or harassment.
  2. Reporting a workplace safety concern.
  3. Participating in a workplace investigation.
  4. Taking protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or other laws.
  5. Requesting an accommodation for a disability or religious belief.
  6. Refusing to engage in illegal or unethical activities.
  7. Exercising rights protected by a union or collective bargaining agreement.
  8. Reporting illegal or unethical behavior by a supervisor or coworker.
  9. Participating in a legal proceeding, such as a lawsuit or an investigation by a government agency.
  10. Speaking out about working conditions or other workplace issues.

It’s important for employers to create a culture where employees feel safe to raise concerns without fear of retaliation.

Toxic Workplace Culture

When someone gets back at another person for speaking up or complaining at work, it’s called retaliation. Retaliation can cause big problems for both the person being treated unfairly and the company. It can lead to legal trouble, like losing money or losing a job. It can also make people not trust each other and make the company look bad.

Employers need to know that retaliation is a serious issue and should try to prevent it. They can do this by creating a nice and respectful work environment where people can talk openly and where complaints are taken seriously. It’s important for employers to care about their employees and to solve problems in a fair and good way. This will help make sure everyone is happy and the work is going well.

When someone gets back at another person for speaking up or complaining at work, it’s called retaliation. Retaliation can have serious consequences for both the person being treated unfairly and the company. It can lead to legal problems, like having to pay money or losing their job. It can also make people lose trust in each other and damage the company’s reputation.

Employers need to know that retaliation is not okay and should try to stop it from happening. They can do this by making sure everyone is treated fairly and by listening to and taking complaints seriously. It’s important for companies to create a good and respectful work environment where people feel safe to talk about problems without being afraid of retaliation.

Uncover Potentially Discriminatory Wages

The Human Resources department plays a vital role in ensuring that every reasonable employee is treated fairly and in accordance with the Civil Rights Act. By protecting employee’s wages and promoting equal opportunities, HR helps to create a workplace that values and respects all employees

Uncovering potentially discriminatory wages can be challenging, but it’s important for employers to take steps to ensure that they are paying employees fairly and in accordance with federal and state laws. To uncover potentially discriminatory wages, employers can:

  1. Conduct a pay equity analysis to identify any gender or race-based pay disparities.
  2. Review job descriptions, duties, and responsibilities to ensure that employees are being paid commensurate with their roles and experience.
  3. Evaluate performance reviews and feedback to ensure that evaluations are objective and not influenced by biases.
  4. Review hiring and promotion practices to ensure that they are fair and based on objective criteria.
  5. Ensure that salary and wage ranges are transparent and communicated to employees.
  6. Encourage employees to report any concerns or complaints about wages or pay practices, and take those concerns seriously.

By using salary information and taking proactive steps to uncover potentially discriminatory wages and address any disparities, employers can promote fairness, transparency, and equality in the workplace.

Workplace Retaliation Behavior Without a Formal Complaint

Workplace retaliation behavior can occur even without a formal complaint being filed. For example, an employer may retaliate against an employee who has expressed concerns about discrimination or harassment but has not yet made a formal complaint. Retaliation can take many forms, including:

  1. Exclusion from meetings or opportunities.
  2. Being given a negative performance review or being passed over for a promotion.
  3. Receiving a reduction in pay or benefits.
  4. Having job duties or responsibilities decreased or altered.
  5. Being harassed or bullied by coworkers or supervisors.
  6. Having work hours or schedule changed without consent.
  7. Being demoted or terminated without a valid reason.

Employees are protected from retaliation even if they haven’t officially complained about something. Federal and state laws make sure of that. Employers need to make sure that their workplace is a safe environment where employees can speak up about concerns without worrying about facing retaliation. It’s really important for employers to take all complaints and concerns seriously.

If an employee thinks they’re facing retaliation, they should talk to someone in HR or a supervisor about it. They may also want to get advice from a legal expert to understand their rights better.

Remember, everyone deserves to work in a place where they can express their concerns freely and without fear of retaliation.

Retaliation: Considerations for Federal Agency Managers

Federal agency managers have a responsibility to prevent retaliation against employees who engage in protected activities, such as reporting discrimination or harassment, participating in investigations, or opposing discriminatory practices in other laws.

To ensure compliance with federal and state laws, federal agency managers should consider the following:

  1. Establishing clear policies and procedures for addressing retaliation, and communicating those policies to all employees.
  2. Providing training to supervisors and managers on how to recognize and prevent retaliation, and how to respond to complaints of retaliation.
  3. Ensuring that all complaints of retaliation are investigated promptly and thoroughly.
  4. Taking appropriate corrective action if retaliation is found to have occurred, including discipline of the offending employee or manager, providing training or counseling, or making other changes to prevent further retaliation.
  5. Maintaining confidentiality during investigations and protecting employees from further retaliation.
  6. Encouraging employees to report any concerns or complaints about retaliation or other workplace misconduct, and taking those concerns seriously.

By taking proactive steps to prevent retaliation and respond appropriately when it occurs, federal agency managers can help to keep employee morale and create a safe, fair, and inclusive workplace for all employees.

Hold Disciplinary Meetings with Employees, and Report Them All to Human Resources

When employees don’t meet the expectations for their behavior or work, it’s important for managers to have meetings with them to address the issues. These meetings are called disciplinary meetings, and they help make sure the workplace stays safe and productive.

During a disciplinary meeting, the manager will talk to the employee about their concerns and what they expect them to do better. The manager will also write down what was discussed in the meeting.

It’s also important to tell human resources about the disciplinary meetings. This helps make sure that everyone is treated fairly and that the same rules are applied to everyone. Reporting the meetings also keeps a record of what happened, which can be helpful in the future.

Sometimes, disciplinary meetings are about more serious things like discrimination or harassment. In these cases, there are special procedures to follow. It’s important to involve human resources and legal experts to handle these situations properly. By having disciplinary meetings and reporting them to human resources, managers help make sure that the workplace is fair, open, and follows the law.

Employment Discrimination

Sexual harassment happens when someone at work does things that make you feel uncomfortable or unsafe because of your gender. It can include things like unwanted comments, requests for favors, or touching that you don’t want. Sexual harassment is against the law, both federal and state laws say so. Employers have a duty to stop sexual harassment and make sure it doesn’t happen in the workplace.

Employment discrimination is when someone treats you unfairly at work because of things like your race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information. It can happen in different ways, like not getting a job or a promotion because of who you are, or being paid less than others for the same work. Just like sexual harassment, employment discrimination is against the law. Employers have to make sure everyone is treated fairly and equally.

To make the workplace better, it’s important for employers to create an environment where everyone feels respected and included. This means preventing sexual harassment and employment discrimination. When employers do their part, it helps make work a safer and fairer place for everyone.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is a government agency that makes sure people are treated fairly at work. They enforce laws that say employers can’t discriminate against employees based on things like race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information.

The EEOC does a lot of important things. They investigate complaints when someone believes they have been treated unfairly. They also do research and reach out to people to educate them about their rights. The EEOC even helps train employers and employees to understand the rules and how to create a fair and inclusive workplace.

If someone thinks they have been treated unfairly at work, they can file a complaint with the EEOC. The EEOC will look into the complaint and take action if needed. Their goal is to make sure everyone has an equal opportunity to work in a safe and fair environment.

The EEOC plays a big role in making sure employers follow the laws that protect people from discrimination. They work hard to promote equal opportunity at work and to create a workplace where everyone is treated with respect and fairness.

What are examples of other EEOC-protected activities?

In addition to a reasonable person filing a complaint of discrimination or harassment, there are other activities that are protected under the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) guidelines. These activities include:

  1. Participating in an EEOC investigation or lawsuit.
  2. Opposing discriminatory practices, such as by complaining to a supervisor or HR representative, or participating in a workplace investigation.
  3. Requesting reasonable accommodation for a disability or religious belief.
  4. Refusing to follow orders that would result in discrimination or harassment.
  5. Providing testimony in an investigation or legal proceeding related to employment discrimination or harassment.
  6. Exercising rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or other leave laws.
  7. Participating in a labor union or other protected collective bargaining activity.
  8. Reporting unsafe working conditions or refusing to work in unsafe conditions.

Employees who engage in these protected activities cannot be retaliated against by their employer for doing so, and are legally protected by federal and state laws against retaliation.

What Are Examples of False Workplace Retaliation Claims?

Sometimes, people might make false claims of retaliation at work. This happens when an employee accuses their employer of doing something wrong without any proof or when the employer investigates the employee’s actions and finds out there was no protected activity involved.

For instance, let’s say an employee gets fired because their performance was poor. But then they falsely claim that they were fired as revenge for reporting discrimination. That would be an example of a false retaliation claim. Another example is when an employee gets disciplined for breaking a company rule, but then falsely claims that they were disciplined because they took sick leave or used protected leave under the FMLA.

It’s really important for employers to take all retaliation claims seriously. They need to do a thorough investigation to find out what really happened. False claims can harm both the employee and the employer, and they can make the workplace lose trust and integrity. So it’s crucial for everyone to be honest and truthful when making claims or accusations at work.

Client Reviews

James Arrasmith is one smart attorney! He understood my problem and came up with a great solution right away. I can depend on him to listen and ask the right questions to get straight to my issues. His availability is...

Alan Murphy

Hiring James to handle my eviction / landlord tenant case is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. He assisted me every step of the way and made the process smooth and easy. It was obvious that he truly cared about...

Monica Martínez alvarado

I've had a lot of attorneys in my life, and James is by far the best attorney that I've ever hired. He helped me with my case from start to finish and clearly explained the process to me without making it overly complex...

DD M

Great consultation, efficient, attorney. I needed possession of my home, Mr. Arrasmith acted swiftly and was able to provide me the information I needed to understand what could have been a lengthy process. Mr...

Nadia Faraci

James is an amazing attorney!! I had never hired a lawyer before (and was very nervous), but James took hours of his time to explain the entire procedure to me. He gave me a thorough consultation, and I was so impressed...

Ledi

James was the only person to answer the phone at 7am on a Saturday morning. My first phone call to him was as a scared and stressed woman with no idea on where to even begin to explain the sort of help I needed. James...

Renae Elise

James helped me with two landlord tenant issues. In both cases, I was able to expeditiously resolve my issue with the tenant. I appreciate his genuine care for his clients; a rare trait in an attorney. I would highly...

theresa26 r

I cannot begin to describe how amazing and reassuring it was to have James guide me through the most challenging moment of my life. When my mother let me know she would soon be passing from cancer and wanted to leave...

Tricia Matsis

James Arrasmith did a great job for me on my legal matter. From the first time I talked to him he was very professional and knew what he was talking about. I would recommend James Arrasmith to anyone who needs help with...

Alvin Warren

I can't express enough how much James put my heart at ease. He has really been dugiligant at getting things done vs what I have experienced before using other lawyers. Highly recommend James if your looking for trust...

Jeremy Rasmussen Finnif Skate

James Arrasmith is a fantastic attorney. He is respectful and knowledgeable! Always very responsive and really takes his time explaining everything so you can understand it. I would highly recommend you meet with James...

Andrew Noseworthy

Mr. Arrasmith was cocounsel on a complex case, but was able persuade a notoriously bad judge to go along with the resolution. He’s a fine lawyer that works hard to make sure he is prepared to win the case. I highly...

James Pearson

Highly recommend choosing James. He was extremely responsive always making sure I understood every step of the process. In addition, he would periodically check in with me before important decisions needed to be made.

Tulsi

He is experts and reasonable attorney.

Ahmad Ali Shinwary

Best attorney I ever worked with... he takes time to explain the whole process and and will make sure you are happy with his work. We did a living trust and he helped me with an eviction case. I highly recommend him!

Alina Cojocari

James is an excellent attorney. I recommend him to anyone who's looking for someone who cares and wants to help win their case! :)

Allen Esealuka

I had a few questions about my situation, I needed some legal advice so I went ahead and contacted the Arrasmith firm. James was very helpful and polite, I asked him about a dozen questions and will be pursuing llegal...

Amber Styles

I cannot begin to describe how amazing and reassuring it was to have James guide me through the most challenging moment of my life. When my mother let me know she would soon be passing from cancer and wanted to leave her...

Tricia

James is a professional with outstanding customer service. We hired him to take care of an issue for us and he delivered as promised. I highly recommend him if you have any ongoing legal issues. James it's absolute...

Aztec Gold99

He will go out of his way . The best lawyer in Sacramento!I don’t know what I would do without lawyer james.

Bryan

Very professional, understanding and willing to assist in any way he can. I am most definitely keeping James as my one stop shop lawyer.

Brad Naylor

I am so happy I found Mr. Arrasmith's law firm! I couldn't have been happier with my decision to hire James. He took my case from point A to point Z and kept me informed every step of the way. If I ever need an attorney...

Bryce Colburn

James is a wonderful addition to the legal community. He is hard working, bright and ethical. He goes the extra mile for his clients.

Caitlin Ross

He was a great attorney.

Devon Campbell

I contacted Mr. Arrasmith regarding a disability related inquiry for a family member. Mr. Arrasmith provided excellent and immediate responses to my questions. I felt as though he truly cared about the well being of my...

Anonymous

Great consultation, efficient, & positive attorney. I needed possession of my home, Mr. Arrasmith acted swiftly and was able to provide me the information I needed to understand what could have been a lengthy process...

Nadia

I had a few questions about my situation, I needed some legal advice so I went ahead and contacted the Arrasmith firm. James was very helpful and polite, I asked him about a dozen questions and will be pursuing llegal...

Amber

James is a great guy. He has helped me to start a very difficult case. That I was nervous to do. He has made me Confident that he will fight hard on my case.

Rachel

I am so happy I made a decision to hire James to help me with my case. He was very professional and assisted me every step of the way. I was able to get a very positive settlement on my case. I couldn’t be happier!

Ledi

James has helped me tremendously with my legal matter by going over all the forms with me and clearly explaining how to complete them. He has made everything easy for me. I am very glad I called James!

Patty

James did a great job helping us with getting our settlement. Followed up in timely manners and updates always provided. Thank you for your help!

Anonymous

Gave James smith a call late at night with an immediate answer, he is very quick to respond and was eager to answer any questions I had.

Erika

Mr. Arrasmith was great, he answered all my questions and was very helpful with my legal matter. Thanks again James.

Alvin

Mr. Arrasmith was great, he answered all my questions and was very helpful with my legal matter. Thanks again James.

Alvin

Mr. Arrasmith was cocounsel on a complex case, but was able persuade a notoriously bad judge to go along with the resolution. He’s a fine lawyer that works hard to make sure he is prepared to win the case. I highly...

James

I've had a lot of attorneys in my life, and James is by far the best attorney that I've ever hired. He helped me with my case from start to finish and clearly explained the process to me without making it overly complex...

Darren

James is a great lawyer! He is honest and very trustworthy. He will give you sound legal advice.

Jason Motto

Great service and customer service. Very professional too, thanks James and Maria!! Having a bilingual attorney who knows so many different aspects of the law is a BIG plus.

JC R

I found James online after an extensive search. He was knowledgeable and worked with me on a payment plan I could afford. I'm happy I picked him for dealing with my awful landlord. He helped me get the settlement I...

Jenn C

Lawyer James Arrasmith For me He very was very approachable and likeable as a person . I felt very comfortable with the knowledge, and information shared for our case. which we got desired result from. He to me is a...

John Davis

James is a wonderful lawyer and person! He is hardworking , ethical, quick and effective lawyer! He knows what he is doing.

Ka Saelee

James Arrasmith always does amazing job helping me with my landlord and tenant cases!! He is my go-to attorney when I need assistance in evicting tenants. I like how he also represents tenants as well as landlords - so...

Kerry Davis

No one likes to need an attorney, but when you do, James is amazing to have in your corner! He is smart, professional, patient, and always makes sure his client is comfortable and confident with the next steps. I refer...

Kristen Trexler

Best lawyer he will get the job done went out of his way totally

Larry Yabut

Mr. Arrasmith and his team are amazing. Mr. Arrasmith is very knowledgeable and has been amazing through our whole process. He treats people like a human being and not a paycheck, I would highly recommend him to...

Magan Mellinger

No one likes to need an attorney, but when you do, James is amazing to have in your corner! He is smart, professional, patient, and always makes sure his client is comfortable and confident with the next steps. I refer...

Kristen

I would highly recommend James. I did lots of research searching for a great Attorney in the area. He makes you feel hopeful during a difficult times. His knowledge and expertise was great!

Maria Guardado

I had a personal issue and needed to consult with a lawyer. James Arrasmith took his time to explain everything so that I could understand exactly what my options were and the best way to go about my next move. I would...

Mark Hodges

A Very Nice, Personable Attorney/Person!! He is Very Patient and Willing to Listen to My {Tour} Case/Problems>I would Highly Recommend James to Anyone Seeking Fair and Equitable Justice!! Mark, CA.

Mark Loeffler

Thank you Mr James for helping me. What a great attorney! If you need help call Mr Arrowsmith!

Marva Davis

I give James Arrowsmith Attorney at Law 5 stars not just because he supports and represents CAED (our Non- Profit Organization that works with children ) but also because of how decent a person I've found him ...

Marvell Wilson

I was sooooo nervous about my case until I called James. He literally made the entire process simple and easy for me. I cannot recommend him highly enough! He is the most amazing attorney I’ve ever had!

Peyton

James has helped me tremendously with my legal matter by going over all the forms with me and clearly explaining how to complete them. He has made everything easy for me. I am very glad I called James!

Patsa Hin-udom

I am Latina and my English is not very good, therefore the attorney made sure that there was an assistant who spoke Spanish and who translated everything he told me and answered all my questions. Excellent service, I...

Paula Barriga

James is fantastic! He answered all of my questions and gave me clear guidance. If you are looking for an experienced and knowledgable attorney, I highly recommend James. Amazing Lawyer!

peyton cooks

James has a very good heart. He takes his cases personally as if it was him. He is a very nice understanding guy

Rachel Ottley

James is very knowledgeable, professional, and dependable. He patiently guided me through my estate planning and pre-nuptial questions, and made both processes much easier for me to understand. Highly recommended.

Sanat Sahasrabudhe

James arasmith is an excellent attorney when I needed help or advice he was always there to answer my calls or emails a very kind person listens & cares.

Tariq Johnson

Thank you so much for being highly responsive. Making I understand every step of the process. As well as checking in with me before important decisions need to be made.

Tulsi Patel

Very friendly, personable, and professional. I was able to get through my legal issue relatively smoothly and had exceptional support through the entire process. Pricing was reasonable and the billing process was not...

V Cat

I had some legal questions, and contacted James Arrasmith Law firm. His response was quick, and very helpful.

vera vlasenko

I highly recommend James Arrasmith. He really listens to your needs & truly cares about his clients. He is very professional & provides great results!

Vicky Tisdale

Contact Us Now

(916) 704-3009