Some people believe in getting even with others or making them regret their actions. One place where there are clear and enforceable legal consequences for this is the workplace.
If an employer retaliates against you because you engaged in a protected activity, they are breaking the law. Protected activities include the following:
Whistleblowing
There are laws and schemes in place to encourage employees to come forward and tell someone when their employer is doing things such as violating environmental or safety protocols or committing fraud. Yet, in many cases, the employees face adverse employment actions, such as their employer dismissing them, demoting them, making their schedule incompatible with their home life or making life at work inhospitable.
Reporting discrimination or harassment
People who harass or discriminate against others usually do not like being called out for it. Sometimes calling them out is enough to end the improper treatment, but sometimes it does not end there. Instead, the person uses their power or influence to get back at their victim in another way.
If it’s your manager who you called out for harassing you, they might give you a terrible performance review that scuppers your chance of the promotion you were applying for. If it’s a friend of the company owner who mistreated you, they might encourage the owner to transfer you to another less desirable location within the company. Or the owner might take that action to protect their friend.
While there is a clear path laid out for taking action against employer retaliation, it’s not always easy to get a result. Employers, or those in the company accused of the retaliation, may find ways to disguise the true motive behind their actions. Seeking appropriate guidance to show the truth may be necessary.