Did You Experience Retaliation in the Workplace After Whistleblowing? Call Us Today!
You are a good worker. You make a point of giving all that you can to your job and your team members. In return, you expect fair compensation and fair treatment. If you have been abused, discriminated against, or harassed in the workplace, then you must do something about it.
You cannot work under such conditions, nor should you have to, especially if an employer is engaging in illegal misconduct. You have every right to report it and stand up for yourself without fear of retaliation or retribution.
Any opposition that you take to being mistreated is a protected activity. Assistance or evidence you give in an investigation into the misdeeds of a co-worker is also covered. If you have been demoted, fired, reassigned, seen a reduction in pay, or the terms and conditions of your employment changed, you can make a retaliation case.
Understanding Retaliation
You cannot get fired for submitting a whistleblower complaint or discrimination lawsuit for unwarranted harassment at work. Nor can your employer institute any other actions that may be materially adverse to you. Federal whistleblower laws offer assurance that you will keep your job if:
- You have been mistreated or witnessed mistreatment in the workplace.
- You know for a fact that your employer violates labor rules and regulations
- You know of some other misdeeds perpetrated by your employer
In addition to whistleblowing, you can report the following illegal behavior without fear of reprisals:
- Violation of wage and hour laws
- Violation of leave laws
- Violation of health and safety laws
- Violation of worker’s compensation laws
- Discrimination
- Sexual Harassment
What Is Whistleblowing?
Whistleblowing is the process of reporting illegal activity within the company that is unrelated to workplace rights. For instance, you can file a complaint if your company is falsifying audit reports or lying on tax returns.
An employer cannot fire anyone for blowing the whistle on illegal activity. Laws like the Sarbanes-Oxley Act protect whistleblowers from retaliatory acts or wrongful termination.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act specifically protects investors from financial wrongdoing and employees for reporting financial irregularities and fraud. The California Whistleblower Protection Act also defends every state employee who comes forward from unlawful misconduct. A lawyer for whistleblower disputes from Mann & Elias can provide you with a better understanding of your legal rights.
How Your Lawyer Can Help You Fight Back
Your employer is required to publish guidelines for reporting abuse in the workplace. If you have followed these guidelines and lodged a complaint against a colleague or superior, you should expect action to be taken against them, not against you.
If you believe you have been retaliated against for your complaint, then you should pursue legal representation immediately. A Los Angeles workplace lawyer will sit down with you and recall the events and circumstances that led to your situation. The attorney you hired will gather all the ready evidence that is available about your case.
Your employment retaliation attorney in Los Angeles will also launch an independent investigation into it. The main goal of retaliation lawyers is to help resolve such conflicts in ways that benefit their clients. They can help clients recover the following damages:
- Back pay
- Out-of-pocket expenses and losses
- Attorney fees and court costs
If you have been fired from your job for your complaint, your lawyer can also help you get reinstated.
Being retaliated against by an employer at work in Los Angeles is a serious injustice and can lead to a miserable life. You do not have to take it. Hiring an attorney is the best way to fight back! For dedicated representation with no upfront fees, give us a call at 323-866-9564 or email info@mannelias.com.