Charlotte Retaliation Lawyer

As an employee, you are guaranteed certain rights under North Carolina law and federal law. Your employer cannot punish you for exercising your most basic rights in the workplace. If you were punished—whether a formal reprimand or an outright termination—because you filed a complaint or otherwise exercised your rights, you may have been the victim of unlawful retaliation. An employment attorney can help. 

At Strianese Huckert LLP, our Charlotte retaliation lawyers are strong, reliable advocates for employee rights. We know how to hold companies and organizations accountable for misconduct in the workplace. If you were the victim of retaliation, our law firm is more than ready to help. To set up a completely confidential consultation with a top North Carolina retaliation attorney, please contact our Charlotte office today. 

You Have a Right to Engage in Protected Activities in the Workplace

An employer may not fire, demote, harass, or otherwise “retaliate” against an individual for complaining about discrimination in the workplace, filing a charge of discrimination, participating in a discrimination proceeding, or otherwise opposing discrimination.  The same laws that prohibit discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, and disability, also prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose unlawful discrimination or participate in a discrimination proceeding, such as an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Charge or a lawsuit. Notable examples of protected activities include: 

• Filing a complaint with the EEOC; 
• Reporting discrimination or harassment internally within the company; 
• Resisting discrimination or harassment;
• Seeking a reasonable accommodation for a disabling condition; and
• Engaging in whistleblower activity. 

The law also protects individuals who have a close association with someone who has engaged in protected activity. For example, it is illegal to terminate an employee because his spouse participated in an employment discrimination litigation. Similarly, an employer cannot punish you because you agreed to be a witness in a coworker’s discrimination or harassment case. 

Retaliation and Adverse Employment Actions

An employer engages in unlawful retaliation when it takes an adverse action against someone in order to try and keep them from opposing or reporting discrimination or participating in a discrimination proceeding. In other words, you may have been the victim of unlawful retaliation if you suffered an adverse employment action (punishment) from an employer.  Examples of adverse actions include: 

• Termination; 
• Demotion; 
• Harassment; 
• Refusal to hire; 
• Denial of a promotion; 
• Unjustified negative evaluations; and
• Unjustified negative references. 

More generally, any act that is likely to deter reasonable people from pursuing their rights can constitute an adverse action. It is important to emphasize that bringing a successful retaliation claim requires establishing a nexus between a protected activity and the adverse employment action. In defending retaliation claims, employers often raise the same defense: They argue that their adverse action was wholly unrelated to the protected activities. Employees must build a compelling case proving a causal connection. 

Employees Can Rely On Our Charlotte Retaliation Lawyers 

Retaliation claims are complicated. As an employee, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the process—especially if your employer is unfairly accusing you of doing something wrong. At Strianese Huckert LLP, we focus on protecting employee rights. You deserve fair treatment in the workplace. When you contact our Charlotte law office, you will have a chance to consult with a North Carolina retaliation attorney who will: 

• Listen to your story and answer your questions about the law;
• Investigate the case—gathering the evidence you need to prove retaliation; and
• Devise a personalized strategy to get you justice and compensation for your damages. 

Retaliation is among the most serious legal violations an employer can commit, and it is not unusual for judges and juries to react very unfavorably to employers who retaliate. Our North Carolina employment lawyers have deep experience in retaliation law. If you have been the victim of retaliation in the workplace, we encourage you to reach out to us for guidance and support. 

Call Our Charlotte, NC Retaliation Attorney Today

At Strianese Huckert LLP, our North Carolina employment lawyers have the skills and experience to represent employees in retaliation claims. We will protect your rights. If you or your family member was unlawfully retaliated against in the workplace, you need a strong advocate on your side. Contact us today for a confidential, no obligation consultation. With an office in Charlotte, we handle retaliation claims throughout the region, including in Concord, Gastonia, Mooresville, Matthews, Kannapolis, Huntersville, Davidson, and Salisbury.