Retaliation | Meaning and Definition

Retaliation meaning corresponds to a situation in which an employee of a particular organization reports illegal or harmful practices and is provided with disciplinary consequences from the manager or the employer. The disciplinary consequences may consist of:

•       Poor performance evaluation and reprimand.
•       Dismissal from the position or job.
•       Physical or verbal abuse.
•       Transference to a not-so-wanted position.
•       Subjected to increased supervision or scrutiny.
•       Attacks on reputation.
•       The employee’s family members’ repercussions.
•       Making the work of the employee difficult and full of responsibilities.
•       Threats.

Necessary actions to be taken

According to The Civil Rights Act, if an employee claims retaliation, he or she does not get immune to dismissal by law. In order to prevent retaliation-related damages, the employer, at first, is required to prove that their course of action is not retaliation but in response to lawful causes.

As per the laws of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), the employees cannot be disciplined in the given circumstances by the employers:

•       Responding to questions.
•       Being a witness in a charge, investigation, complaint, etc.
•       Protecting others and resisting oneself from sexual advances.
•       Not following discriminating orders consulting higher ends with respect to employment harassment or discrimination.
•       Disability or religious practice requirement of accommodation.
•       Raising voice against discriminatory wages and consulting co-workers and managers.

Retaliation Settlements that the employers have to pay

In case an employer is found guilty, restitution is demanded from the employee, which includes back pay as compensation missed by the defendant, compensation for emotional distress, and front pay during the time of deciding retaliation.