Chattanooga Workplace Retaliation Attorneys
Standing up for yourself when you were mistreated in the workplace is important. That is why there are laws in place that protect employees who raise claims in good faith against their employers. If you faced discrimination, harassment, or unfair compensation in the workplace, you should not have to fear losing your job for trying to remedy the situation.
Although employers may want to lash out at employees who exposed unfavorable conduct or business practices, acting on these impulses at your expense is impermissible. A Chattanooga retaliation lawyer at Employment and Commerce Law Group could work to stop mistreatment at work and achieve favorable outcomes for employees who experienced retaliation. Contact an established employment attorney right away.
What Are At-Will Employees?
Employees in Chattanooga are at-will employees. This means that unless they have a contract, employers can fire workers at any time for any reason. Conversely, employees may leave their job whenever they decide. Despite this at-will doctrine, employers may not fire employees partaking in a protected activity.
Chattanooga retaliation lawyers know that since employers may terminate employment for any reason, it can make it difficult to prove a retaliation case. Of course, not all employment terminations are the result of retaliation. Terminations or demotions due to personality differences or disagreements alone may not be enough to prove retaliation. It may be important for an employee to keep detailed documentation of the alleged retaliatory conduct they experienced to build the strongest case possible.
Common Instances of Employer Retaliation
Anyone who experienced employer retaliation in Chattanooga is not alone. According to the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, retaliation is a widespread issue. Retaliation often includes hostile actions towards a person from their employer. If an employer threatened, fired, harassed, demoted, or otherwise punished a person after they filed a claim against them, it may be a case of retaliation.
Defining Wrongful Termination of Employment
Federal statutes prevent employers from firing an employee on the basis of protected characteristics including age, race, gender, disability or national origin. An employee could have legal recourse if an employer fires them for:
- Turning down sexual advances
- Requesting accommodations for a disability
- Refusing to participate in illegal activity
- Telling a supervisor about discriminatory behavior
An employer may not retaliate against an employee for reporting these and other violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or the Americans with Disabilities Act. The law also protects employees who report alleged wage and hour violations of their employer. If someone believes their employer violated Federal Labor Standards Act by failing to compensate for overtime or pay minimum wage, they should contact a Chattanooga retaliation lawyer right away.
Consult a Chattanooga Retaliation Attorney
An attorney could be able to help you recover back wages and damages if you were the subject of employer retaliation. Every employee may recover different types and amounts of damages depending on their unique case. In addition to damages, you may also be entitled to job reinstatement. There is well established federal legislation that prohibits retaliation. A Chattanooga retaliation lawyer knows the law and may be able to provide you with sound advice on your case.
