Paramus Workplace Retaliation Attorney

RETALIATION

AN ARRAY OF STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS ESTABLISHES VARIOUS RIGHTS FOR EMPLOYEES IN NEW JERSEY

Workers have many rights, including the right to report harassment or discrimination in the workplace or to blow the whistle on other illegal activity. Sadly, some employers retaliate against workers who are simply exercising their rights. This retaliation is clearly illegal, and powerful state and federal laws empower workers to stand up for themselves. Reach out to the Law Offices of Usmaan Sleemi today. Our firm provides legal services to employees who have suffered retaliation on the job. Call us to speak with a Paramus retaliation attorney in a private consultation to learn what steps to take next.

Retaliation in New Jersey Takes Different Forms

Retaliation typically consists of actions taken to punish an employee for exercising a right. The punishment can take various forms, but common examples include:

Cutting a worker’s hours
Reducing pay
Cutting benefits
Assigning a worker undesirable tasks
Transferring an employee
Demotion
Termination
Denying leave
Denying training opportunities

Retaliation can vary in severity. In extreme cases, an employer might fire a worker or make the workplace so abusive that the worker has no choice but to leave (which is called constructive discharge).

Protected Activities

Employers often retaliate against workers who exercise some common rights:

Requesting a reasonable accommodation for a disability or for a religious reason.
Blowing the whistle on illegal conduct, including fraud or regulatory violations.
Refusing to participate in any criminal or discriminatory practice.
Participating in an investigation into harassment, discrimination, or other illegal activity.
Declining sexual advances at work, especially from a supervisor.
Requesting medical leave to seek medical care or take care of a family member.
Filing a workers’ compensation claim for an on-the-job injury.

Not all activity is protected. New Jersey remains an “at will” employment state, and employers can typically terminate an employee for any reason, including feeling the worker is a “bad fit.” But an employer has engaged in illegal retaliation when they take negative employment action in response to protected activity.

FAQs about Retaliation in New Jersey

What evidence do I need to prove retaliation?

A worker has the burden of showing their employer retaliated. Some evidence includes any admissions made by your boss, including emails where they admit to retaliation. We can also have witnesses testify if they overheard an intent to retaliate. We might even point to timing. If an employer retaliates soon after you exercise a right, then the timing looks suspicious.

What remedies are available when an employer retaliates against a worker?

Common remedies include job reinstatement, back pay, lost benefits, and other damages. We can review your options in a consultation.

How do Paramus employers defend themselves from retaliation claims?

Employers allege that an employee’s job performance was so poor that disciplinary action or termination was justified. They might also claim economic conditions require cutting an employee’s hours or pay. A lawyer can investigate whether these claims are true or merely pretextual.

Contact a Paramus Retaliation Attorney Today

If you suspect an employer has retaliated against you, contact Attorney Usmaan Sleemi for a private consultation at 973-866-9415. We can identify whether you have a strong claim or if more evidence is needed. Our firm can file an administrative complaint or lawsuit on your behalf.

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