You gathered your courage and reported your supervisor’s inappropriate comments to human resources (HR). You thought doing the right thing would protect you. Instead, within weeks, your employer stripped away your responsibilities and excluded you from team meetings. Now you face punishment for speaking up.
Many employees in Colorado face retaliation from their employers after reporting sexual harassment. Fortunately, Colorado state laws safeguards you from vengeful acts when you report workplace sexual harassment.
To protect yourself effectively, you first need to understand what retaliation is in legal terms.
Understanding retaliation in the workplace
Retaliation is when your employer punishes you for either reporting sexual harassment or taking part in an investigation.
It’s important to know that Colorado law protects more than just the person who experienced the harassment. It also protects witnesses and anyone who supports the complaint.
You have the right to speak up without fear of punishment. The law forbids your employer from harming your career for doing the right thing. While knowing the law is vital, recognizing what counts as a retaliatory act is what truly empowers you to take action.
Recognizing retaliatory acts at work
Understanding what retaliation looks like in the workplace helps you identify it when it happens to you. Your employer may retaliate against you in various ways, some obvious and others more subtle. If you have an ongoing sexual harassment report, watch out for these common retaliatory acts in your workplace:
- Termination: This happens if your employer fires you shortly after you report harassment.
- Demotion: This occurs if your employer reduces your position, responsibilities or pay grade in response to your report.
- Non-promotion: If you lose a promotion opportunity you were otherwise qualified to receive, it serves as proof that your employer is retaliating against you.
- Negative evaluation: Retaliation can also happen if you receive an unfair evaluation that doesn’t reflect your actual work quality.
- Ostracization: If your employer or colleagues exclude you from essential workplace activities or communications, then that also counts as retaliation.
Each of these actions violates your legal rights under Colorado law. Hence, if you notice any of these violations, you need to take immediate action to protect yourself and your career.
What to do if your employer retaliates against you?
If your employer retaliates against you, remember you have legal protections. You have the right to report harassment without facing consequences.
Consider getting legal help, as a lawyer can help protect your rights. They can help you document every incident and prepare your case for legal action if necessary. Understanding your rights empowers you to stand up for yourself and others facing retaliation at work.