California Retaliation Lawyers

What does employer retaliation mean?

Retaliation essentially means that your employer tried to punish or discipline you because of your assertion of any of the following rights – the right to:

• File a discrimination claim;
• File a sexual harassment claim;
• File a claim for workers’ compensation benefits;
• File a claim under the federal False Claims Act or the California False Claims Act – disclosing governmental fraud such as submitting improper bills to the government;
• Request medical leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act;
• Seek compensation under the terms of an executive compensation agreement;
• Seek compensation under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement;
• Testify or cooperate in the investigation of a complaint filed by another employee;
• Assert any other legal right.

Employers may also retaliate against you if you miss work due to any injury or illness.

Unauthorized punishment or discipline includes the following:

• Terminating your employment;
• Denying you a deserved promotion;
• Giving you less-than-desirable job assignments or transferring you to an undesirable location;
• Suspending you;
• Reducing your pay.

Workers’ compensation and retaliation

Police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and many other first responders risk gunshots, assaults, flames, smoke inhalation, falling objects, back injuries, and many other types of injuries and illnesses to help our California communities.

Many first responders will file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits due to their physical injuries or occupational illnesses at some point in their careers. Generally, your employer must hold your job open for you while you are recovering and receiving medical care. Your employer cannot, according to California’s worker’s compensation law, fire you or even threaten to fire you because you seek payment of your medical bills and compensation for a temporary disability.

Our California Los Angeles workers' compensation retaliation lawyers have the experience and working relationships with physicians to show that your worker’s claim is justified and to file retaliation claims if your employer does not preserve your ability to return to your old job or a different job with proper training.