Minneapolis Workplace Retaliation Lawyers

Employers have the right to terminate employees with or without cause as the employment relationship is considered “at-will.” However, employers are not permitted to terminate an employee in retaliation for an employee reporting instances of discrimination or harassment, reporting an injury or acting as a whistleblower.

At Neaton & Puklich, P.L.L.P., in Minneapolis, our team represents employees in the Twin Cities metro and surrounding areas who have been retaliated against by their employers. If you think you have lost your job as a form of retaliation, our lawyers can help you identify the viability of your claim and pursue your rights.

Call 952-314-5779 or toll-free at 877-813-4764 for a free initial consultation with our Minneapolis workplace retaliation attorneys.

Protecting The Rights Of Employees In The Workplace

Employers are often able to use their ultimate power – the power to terminate employment or institute a demotion or pay reduction – to intimidate employees who want to make claims or retaliate against employees who:

• Make Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) claims
• Seek workers’ compensation
• Report sexual harassment
• Make discrimination claims
• Take maternity leave or become pregnant

Our lawyers are fully prepared to take every case to its rightful conclusion in their pursuit of the best option possible for each of our clients. If a case should go to trial, our attorneys will take it to trial. If they consider it in our clients’ interests to recommend settlement, they will do so. At every stage of the process, they work with our clients to answer their frequently asked questions, identify their interests and evaluate the costs, benefits and risks of any potential action.

What Is Retaliation In The Workplace?

Our lawyers are frequently asked about the nature of retaliation in the workplace. For C-suite executives in the Twin Cities, workplace retaliation can be subtle and difficult to prove. You have been outspoken to your boss about the unhealthy environment or their shady treatment of you and your fellow employees, or you have reported illegal activity, and suddenly, you find yourself experiencing:

• A decrease in your pay
• No increase in your wages when others are receiving raises for the exact duties you perform
• A demotion or transfer to a different department
• Fewer opportunities to scale
• Lower performance reviews, although you know better
• Your boss aiming derogatory comments at you

Your employer cannot lawfully punish you for trying to make your workplace a better place.

How Can Someone Prove They Have Been Retaliated Against?

Retaliatory motives are difficult to prove. The first step is to keep a written record of dates and the behavior of your boss, manager or supervisor in the workplace that you notice. After advocating for a workplace free of discrimination, have you seen changes as noted above? It may take time to create a record, but you will need this record. It will be your word against your employer’s to prove discriminatory retaliation. Your employer is going to say, “false,” but when you have a substantial record, you may file a report with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to investigate your employer. Reach out to our experienced team for legal assistance.

What Are Common Violations That Whistleblowers Report?

For whistleblowing to be an effective means of preventing and uncovering wrongdoing by businesses, whistleblowers must be protected and safe from retaliation. Employees may report their employer for violations such as:

• Dangerous or unhealthy working conditions
• Unlawful environmental pollution
• Not providing the proper equipment to accomplish assigned tasks
• Not providing decent employee rest facilities
• Not allowing employees to take regular work breaks
• Falsifying tax documents
• Failing to file state or federal taxes
• Importing or exporting prohibited goods
• Creating fraudulent shipping labels
• Misrepresenting services offered to customers
• Discriminatory actions against employees

This list is not exhaustive. Do not be afraid to report your employer for morally suspect actions. You have a right to do so.

We Protect The Rights Of Whistleblowers. Call Us Today.

Our lawyers protect the rights of whistleblowers, taking on employers who have retaliated against employees for disclosing their illegal conduct and practices. Retaliation can include being demoted, terminated or harassed as a result of said whistleblowing. To discuss your workplace retaliation issue with a lawyer, contact us today for a free initial consultation.