Santa Barbara Employee Retaliation Lawsuit Attorney
If you believe you were the victim of adverse employment conditions because of your conduct, contact our Santa Barbara employee retaliation lawsuit attorney to review your situation. Call the Law Offices of Bamieh & De Smeth, PLC at (805) 643-5555 to schedule a free consultation.
What Constitutes Employee Retaliation in a Santa Barbara Workplace?
If you are an employee in Santa Barbara, your employer is prohibited under both federal and California employment law from retaliating against you for specific conduct. For instance, you are entitled to file a discrimination complaint or file for workers’ compensation without fear of being fired or demoted. Additionally, employees are permitted to request religious accommodations or report a violation of the law.
It is important to understand that retaliation is not limited to wrongfully firing an employee. There are many ways an employer can create a hostile work environment in retaliation, including demoting an employee, denying a promotion, or assigning work tasks meant to punish the employee. When an employee experiences retaliatory behavior, they could seek compensation and damages through a lawsuit.
Examples of Employee Retaliation in Santa Barbara Employment Claims
Under California and federal law, Santa Barbara employees have the right to file a good faith complaint with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
In some cases, an employee might be required to be a witness in an investigation against their employer. Even in these situations, both state and federal law protects the employee from their employer creating any adverse workplace conditions in retaliation for their cooperation.
California’s “False Claims Act” and Retaliation Claims in Santa Barbara
Many times, it is an employee who uncovers illegal activity on the part of their employer. Under the California False Claims Act, Santa Barbara employees are permitted to file a “qui tam” lawsuit against their employer without fear of reprisal. A “qui tam” claim is a lawsuit filed by a private individual on behalf of the government or a government agency. When filed by an employee, the lawsuit is typically related to either the embezzlement or inappropriate use of government funds. Our Santa Barbara attorneys will file a retaliation lawsuit on your behalf if your employer wrongfully terminates you or otherwise adversely affects your employment for exercising your rights under the act.
Evidence of Retaliation in Santa Barbara Employment Lawsuits
No job is perfect, and if you do not like your employer’s decisions, it does not mean you are the victim of retaliation in the workplace. For example, if you file a discrimination claim against your company and your employer stops saying good morning or is not openly friendly, their conduct probably does not constitute illegal retaliation.
However, workplace retaliation is often subtle. In some rare cases, an employee will be immediately fired after lodging a complaint, but in most situations, the conduct is not as overt. For example, you might have an unreasonably unfavorable performance review months after an incident, experience an unusual increase in your workload, or you might find yourself being assigned the less desirable shifts. If you experience any behavior on the part of your employer that adversely affects your employment that might be related to protected activities, contact our Santa Barbara attorney to review your circumstances.
Retaliation Lawsuits Filed Against Santa Barbara Employers
The type of retaliation a victim experiences will influence the type of claim filed. The Law Offices of Bamieh & De Smeth could file a retaliation lawsuit based on union activities, discrimination, First Amendment rights, employee safety complaints, and political affiliation or conduct. If you suspect you are the victim of any type of retaliatory behavior in the workplace, contact our office immediately.
Damages for Employees in Santa Barbara Retaliation Lawsuits
There is a wide variety of damages available to a victim of employer retaliation. In addition to the recovering lost income, if you were wrongfully fired from your job, there are other potential damages available depending on the conduct of your employer.
A victim of workplace retaliation could suffer humiliation, embarrassment, or have their professional reputation damaged. These types of damages are known as non-economic damages and are based on the emotional and mental harm an employee experienced.
Plaintiffs are also entitled to economic damages, including any medical expenses if they need any treatment or therapy. Even if an employee is not fired, they can still recover lost wages if they were demoted or denied a promotion. Our California attorney will thoroughly examine your situation and the harm you suffered to appropriately calculate your anticipated damages in an employee retaliation lawsuit.
Call Our Santa Barbara Employee Retaliation Lawsuit Attorney for a Free Consultation
If you were the victim of employee retaliation at your job, the first thing you should do is contact our Santa Barbara employee discrimination attorney. The Law Offices of Bamieh & De Smeth has the experience and resources to handle complicated employment lawsuits properly. You should feel free to exercise your rights without fear of being fired, demoted, or otherwise reprimanded by your employer. Call the Law Offices of Bamieh & De Smeth, PLC at (805) 643-5555 to schedule a free appointment.
