Retaliation is a serious legal issue. Employees who believe they've been punished for exercising their rights or reporting signs of retaliation at work have the right to file complaints with regulatory agencies, who may sue on their behalf if the evidence supports it.

What happens when you report retaliation?

DLSE will investigate and issue a decision within sixty days of receiving your complaint. If DLSE finds that your employer has unlawfully retaliated against you, penalties may include suspension of the employer's business license and/or a fine.

What is needed to prove retaliation?

To prove a retaliation claim in California, an employee must show that (1) he has engaged in a "protected activity" - i.e. complaining about unlawful discrimination, unlawful harassment, safety violations, patient safety at a healthcare facility, or exercising a number of other protected rights under the law, (2) he ...