Feeling like your employer is attacking you after you report wrongdoing is concerning. Are there steps you can take to keep your job and stop your employer?
Workplace retaliation happens more often than you may think. If you have recently reported workplace misconduct, your gut may prove correct. Take a glimpse into what to look for and what you may need to show your employer is actively retaliating against you.
What is workplace retaliation?
If you have recently reported something wrong in your workplace, you may sense a shift in your treatment. Whether you stop getting the same caliber of projects or encounter cold shoulders in the conference room, any change in your treatment after you report harassment or discrimination may rise to retaliation. While your employer may not directly terminate your employment, you may find that the actions and inactions are driving you toward the brink of quitting.
What do you need to prove in a case?
When you believe that your employer’s actions may qualify as retaliation, you should take swift action to file a complaint. However, you will need to provide evidence of the retaliatory measures. One of the ways you can do this is by providing documentation of specific examples of wrongdoing. You need to show the following:
- You reported acts of harassment, discrimination or wrongdoing in the workplace
- Your employer began to act out against you
- The retaliation did not start until after your initial report of wrongdoing
Your career aspirations do not need to fail because of the improper and illegal actions of those you work with and for. When you set out to prove your employer is behaving inappropriately against you, it helps to have the assistance of a professional with knowledge and experience in the field.