Discrimination in the workplace is not to be tolerated, and it is indeed against the law. When an employee reports an incident of suspected discrimination, he or she is protected against retaliation by the employer. Employers are not allowed to take any actions against an employee because of a discrimination complaint.
When an employee reports a suspected discriminatory action, he or she expects to be treated properly. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Some employers may retaliate against employees who complain about discrimination. When this happens, there are some legal steps you can take with help from a qualified employment attorney. Employees are protected by the law, including the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.
Discrimination in the Workplace
There are many types of actions that might be considered discriminatory. Employers cannot discriminate against employees on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or age. Discrimination may take a variety of forms in the workplace. You have the right to report discriminatory actions or file a claim without fear of retaliation. An employer may retaliate in a number of ways.
Protected activities may include:
- Filing a discrimination charge against an employer
- Testifying as a witness to discrimination charges
- Cooperating with a discrimination investigation
- Threatening to file a discrimination claim
- Discussing discrimination that has occurred
As an employee, you have the right to a discrimination-free workplace and are protected from discriminatory actions by employers.
Retaliatory Actions
Simply complaining about discrimination on the part of your employer should not result in retaliatory actions against you. Some of the most common types of retaliation include:
- Harassment
- Termination
- Negative performance reviews or file entries
- Forced resignation
- Failure to promote
- Reduction in hours or overtime
- Threats
- Negative references
- Increased surveillance
Retaliatory actions can have a long-term negative impact – both emotional and financial. An employer who is already facing complaints of discrimination cannot simply make them go away by firing the person who made the accusations. Discrimination complaints are to be handled properly and the company will be investigated to determine whether discrimination took place.
If a company retaliates against an employee for making any type of claim or complaint against them, the employee is able to take action. It is best to seek guidance from a qualified employment attorney as soon as possible.
Obtain the Legal Help You Need
Discrimination and retaliation cases are covered by various state and federal laws. If you were terminated or demoted, you might be facing financial challenges due to the retaliation. These types of cases can be complex, but you can get the justice you deserve. With the help of your attorney, you can file a claim against your employer to ensure that you get a fair resolution. If your employer is found to be guilty of retaliation, you could be entitled to compensation for wages that were lost due to improper termination and you might be reinstated. Your employer may also be ordered to remove negative information from your employee file.
If your employer unfairly retaliated against you because of a complaint of discrimination, get the legal help you need today with a consultation with HKM Employment Attorneys, LLP.
Call 412-368-5754, schedule a call, or fill out this form and we will get back to you ASAP.