There are some unscrupulous employers out there that don’t care if they are doing things unethically. They rely on their employees to not say anything so they create a culture of fear to get away with things. It’s when an employee does the right thing and calls them out on their bad behavior that things can go badly for the employee.
Retaliation is common in these types of situations. Usually, an employment lawyer gets called to help them but some people may not be sure if they are actually being retaliated against. If you’re unsure if this is happening to you then you need to know the signs. In this article, we will go over the ways to know if you have been retaliated against at work.
1 – Wrongful termination
If you were a model employee with a record of good performance reviews and then suddenly you’re fired you may wonder why that happened. If it happens shortly after you reported something you saw at work that didn’t sit well with you then you likely have a good case to be made that you were retaliated against.
If you go talk to a lawyer that handles complaints regarding unfair dismissal then you will no doubt be relieved to know that they would agree that this is a sure sign. Your employer will likely try to cover their tracks, but a good lawyer will be able to see through it and find a way to bring this case to court.
You may be entitled to compensation or can get your job back if that’s the route you choose to take.
2 – Sudden change of schedule
When you have been working a certain schedule for a number of years you generally will structure your life around it. Then, if that schedule changes it can be a major disruption.
This is what an employer is hoping for when they change your schedule as punishment for something they feel that you did to undermine them.
A change of schedule can mean that you are not able to get your children from daycare in time and either need to quit or find somebody to help you out. The employer is hoping that you simply quit since it will be much easier for them.
Don’t quit until you’ve spoken to a lawyer or your local labor agency. They will help you determine if this is a case of retaliation and help you fight it.
3 – Being passed over
When you have been at a company for a while and have a proven track record of success, you expect to be rewarded for that. When you are constantly being passed over for a raise or promotion and it started happening after you reported something then this is likely retaliation.
You’re not guaranteed promotions but it should be expected by good employees as people only stay at a job when they have room to grow. Make sure to talk to somebody to see if this is a sign that you are being retaliated against at work.
