There’s no shortage of people who feel mistreated by their employers. Incidentally, there’s no shortage of employers who regularly mistreat their employees. While many members of the workforce opt to roll with any employer mistreatment that’s thrown their way, it’s important to realize that certain behaviors on the part of one’s employer warrant litigation. So, if your employer is guilty of any of the following offenses, don’t hesitate to seek out knowledgeable legal counsel.
Harassment
Harassment is an all-too-common problem in workplaces across the country. Although the people behind it – as well as countless managers and supervisors – actively seek to minimize harassment and its effects, this doesn’t make the issue any less serious. So, if you’ve ever been objectified, ridiculed, bullied or any combination thereof in the workplace, a good attorney can help get you the compensation you deserve. The average workplace is stressful enough without having to worry about harassment from peers and supervisors. Additionally, if you’ve already reported this behavior to the relevant parties and seen a complete lack of action on their end, litigation may be the only way for justice to be done.
Retaliation
Retaliation is among the most forms of harassment in the workplace, and fear of it often prevents people from coming forward about offenses committed by high-ranking individuals. So, if you believe you’ve been disciplined or let go in retaliation for reporting wrongdoing on the part of bosses or coworkers, a seasoned attorney can help get you the restitution you seek. Furthermore, if you’ve been retaliated against for reporting illegal activities committed by figures within your company, get in touch with a highly-rated SEC whistleblower attorney on the double.
Unequal disciplinary measures
If your employer imposes certain consequences on employees who commit certain offenses, they need to be consistent in their disciplinary measures. For example, if you’re harshly reprimanded, suspended without pay or fired for a purported offense that your employer has rarely – or never – punished others for, you may have sufficient grounds for legal action. So, if your employer is only open to taking disciplinary action against some employees while allowing others to commit offenses without fear of punishment, consider getting in touch with an attorney.
Failure to pay workers’ compensation claims
If an on-the-job injury leaves you unable to work, your employer is obligated to provide you with workers’ compensation – especially if you became injured as a result of unsafe working conditions. Needless to say, an employer refusing to pay workers’ compensation claims can put injured employees in a tough spot. If your only options appear to be going to work injured or losing your income, contact a knowledgeable workers’ compensation attorney. If concern for worker safety isn’t enough to compel your employer to pay your claims, perhaps legal action will be.
Wrongful termination
If you believe you were fired from a job for unjust, unwarranted or outright illegal reasons, you may be able to sue your employer for wrongful termination. For example, if you think you were let go for reasons pertaining to race, gender or religion, you should get in touch with an attorney at once.
Additionally, if you were fired for issues that you weren’t even made aware of until the time of your dismissal, you may have a wrongful termination case on your hands. For instance, if the reason given for your dismissal is performance issues that were never brought to your attention prior to your firing, you shouldn’t take this lying down. Suddenly being deprived of your livelihood is a big deal, and if you aren’t provided with a satisfactory explanation for why you’re being let go, you may need to go to court to get answers.
To say that most people aren’t crazy about their jobs would be an understatement. Unreasonable expectations, uneven hours and frustrating office politics are just a few of the reasons many members of the workforce regard their jobs as cumbersome chores. However, there’s a difference between standard job dissatisfaction and outright abuse and negligence on the part of employers. In fact, certain workplace injustices constitute grounds for litigation. So, if any of the offenses discussed above have been committed by your employer, you may be warranted in pursuing legal action.