When you get a new job, it can be one of the best moments of your life. After all, nobody likes to be unemployed. Regardless of whether you have just got a new job or have been working at a place for years, it does not feel good to be discriminated against. Things can get even worse when you report the discrimination and face retaliation instead of getting justice.
If you suspect you have been facing retaliation in the workplace, you are entitled to justice and compensation. Retaliation can be subtle and obvious, and the experience differs from person to person. It helps to know the obvious signs of retaliation in the workplace so that you can recognize it and file a legal claim. Speak to an Austin employment discrimination lawyer.
Five crystal clear signs of Retaliation in the Workplace
- You are getting the silent treatment.
Getting silent treatment right after filing sexual harassment or another kind of complaint in the workplace is one of the most obvious signs of retaliation. Notice whether your employer, co-workers, and other office members have started excluding you from activities. It may be possible that the management has bad-mouthed you to them, which is why people are avoiding you.
The silent treatment can manifest in other forms as well, including the following:
- They are leaving you out of important meetings that you once used to be a part of.
- You do not get informed or notified about important events in the workplace.
- Colleagues who used to sit at lunch with you are now “too busy” to eat.
- You are passed over for a promotion or a raise.
If you were sure that you were going to get a promotion or raise, either because of your excellent performance reviews or something that your employer said, and the promotion goes to someone else, it might be a sign of retaliation. This is especially true if this happens right after you file a complaint of discrimination in the workplace.
If the management does not like you making a complaint, they may try to teach you a lesson by snatching the opportunities that you deserve.
- Excessive negative job performance reviews.
If you have always been getting good job reviews after years of working in the same company and suddenly getting bad reviews, it is a clear sign of retaliation. It is especially true if your performance has remained the same, but the reviews are still bad.
