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Retaliation

Your good disciplinary records will almost always beat employee’s retaliation claim

01/02/2018

If you are certain you can justify your action, don’t be afraid to discipline a worker who has filed a discrimination charge or otherwise opposed alleged discriminatory actions. Generally, courts give employers leeway to discipline as long as they believe they acted in good faith.

Small annoyances can add up to retaliation

12/13/2017

Retaliation can be anything that would dissuade a reasonable employee from complaining about discrimination in the first place. It doesn’t have to be an isolated act.

Kingwood, Texas firm digs in heels over unpaid OT, faces suit

12/06/2017

A Houston-area medical staffing firm refused to back down when the Department of Labor accused it of stiffing an employee out of overtime pay and then retaliating against the employee for complaining.

Is that retaliation or a legitimate business decision?

11/29/2017

Employees are protected from retaliation for complaining internally about alleged discrimination. Some workers seem to think that means they can never be criticized or have their working conditions change. Fortunately, that’s not true.

Paid suspension is hardly ‘intolerable’

11/21/2017

An employee can quit and sue for constructive discharge if the working conditions are truly intolerable. Being suspended with pay pending an investigation doesn’t qualify.

Move affecting income might be retaliation

11/21/2017

If an employer action affecting a worker’s pocketbook would make a reasonable employee think twice about filing a discrimination complaint, a court is likely to consider the merits of a retaliation lawsuit. 

Supreme Court 2017–18: Employment law cases on the docket

11/15/2017

This year’s Supreme Court docket covers several timely employment law issues. As the last word on important legal issues, Supreme Court decisions usually offer important compliance lessons.

Locked out of the office: Is that retaliation—or should she have knocked on the door?

11/15/2017

An employee’s mere suspicion about possible reprisal, based on seemingly minor supervisory actions, won’t persuade a court that retaliation occurred. Instead, workers are expected to take a bit of initiative.

Document business reasons for staffing moves

11/15/2017

Document the timing and explanation for all employment actions. It’s hard for employees to win lawsuits over transfers, demotions or discharges when the employer has records showing objective business reasons for the move.

Disciplining whistleblower? Beware retaliation charge

11/15/2017

If a supervisor receives a whistleblower complaint from a subordinate, make sure he or she has no decision-making role in any subsequent discipline against the whistleblower.