Retaliation 

What Is Retaliation?

Retaliation is a situation where an employee who reports on harmful or illegal practices in their organization receives disciplinary consequences from their employer or manager. These consequences may include:

• Dismissal
• Reprimands and poor performance evaluations
• Transfer to a less desirable position
• Verbal or physical abuse
• Threats of reporting an employee’s immigration status or contacting the police, or following through with these threats
• Increased scrutiny at work 
• Attacks on the employee’s reputation
• Repercussions on the employee’s family members
• Actions that make the employee’s work more difficult (in scheduling or responsibilities)

What Damages Could Employers Pay in Retaliation Settlements?

If an employer is found guilty of discriminatory retaliation, they must provide restitution to the employee. This restitution can include back pay for the expected compensation the defendant missed because of the retaliation, compensatory damages for emotional distress, and front pay for the compensation missed while the retaliation case is being decided.