Retaliation

Fired worker right after she complained about sexual harassment? Prepare for a lawsuit

04/24/2019

If you discharge an employee shortly after she files a sexual harassment complaint, chances are she will sue and allege retaliation. Even if she is off work for a few months, you may end up owing her more than lost wages if she also suffered emotionally.

Never deny benefits because of prior FMLA leave

04/16/2019

An employer who didn’t provide paid leave because of past absenteeism now faces a retaliation lawsuit.

Beware close timing between FMLA leave and discipline

04/15/2019

The closer a termination comes to the end of a worker’s FMLA leave, the more likely she may win an FMLA-retaliation lawsuit.

Warning letter doesn’t count as retaliation

04/15/2019

Retaliation must include an adverse employment action such as termination, demotion or some other substantial and negative action like transfer to an undesirable shift. A mere letter of warning doesn’t rise to the required level of adversity.

Griping about minor rulebreaking doesn’t count as whistleblowing

04/10/2019

Do you have employees who are always tattling on co-workers about minor rulebreaking? If so, don’t worry too much that the complaining employee can spin that into protected activity under the California Labor Code’s whistleblowing provisions.

Employees have three years to sue for willful violations of the FMLA

04/02/2019

Employers that retaliate against employees for taking FMLA leave may find themselves being sued a full three years after the alleged infraction.

Beware retaliation after race bias complaint

04/02/2019

Employees who file internal discrimination complaints are protected from retaliation for doing so, even if the complaint turns out to be unfounded. Something like a demotion or significantly different job duties can be retaliation.

What is a ‘public body’ for whistleblowing purposes?

03/15/2019

Pennsylvania employees are protected from retaliation for whistleblowing involving a “public body” under the Pennsylvania Whistleblower Law. But what about private employers that receive state or federal funding?

Lawsuit alert: Beware disciplining for infractions of seldom-enforced rules

03/15/2019

Sometimes, supervisors get frustrated with workers they consider trouble makers because they complain all the time. Those bosses need to think twice before they retaliate by strictly enforcing work rules—especially if they have often ignored those rules in the past.

Workers’ comp: What happens in Texas stays in Texas

03/06/2019

Employees claiming retaliation for making a workers’ compensation claim in Texas can’t make a federal case out of it. Such claims must be heard in state courts.