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Retaliation in Employment

Retaliation in Employment

Employees have the right to report discrimination and assert their civil rights without fear of punishment or negative consequences at work.

Retaliation occurs when an employer takes adverse action against an employee or job applicant because they engaged in a protected activity related to employment discrimination.

Under federal and Indiana civil rights laws, retaliation related to discrimination complaints may violate the law.

What Is Retaliation in Employment?

Retaliation occurs when an employer takes negative action against someone because they exercised their rights under employment discrimination laws.

These rights help ensure that individuals can report discrimination or participate in investigations without fear of losing their job or being treated unfairly.

Examples of Protected Activities:

Protected activities may include actions such as:

  • Filing a discrimination complaint
  • Reporting harassment or discrimination to a supervisor or human resources
  • Requesting a reasonable accommodation for a disability
  • Requesting a religious accommodation
  • Participating as a witness in a discrimination investigation or hearing

Employees and applicants are protected when they take these actions in good faith.

Who Is Protected from Retaliation?

Retaliation protections may apply to many individuals involved in the employment process.

This may include:

  • Employees
  • Job applicants
  • Former employees
  • Individuals who participate in discrimination investigations
  • Witnesses who provide information during an investigation

These protections help ensure that individuals can participate in civil rights processes without fear of punishment.

Why Retaliation Protections Matter:

Civil rights laws rely on individuals feeling safe to report discrimination and harassment.

If employees fear retaliation, they may be less likely to report unlawful behavior.

Retaliation protections help ensure that workplaces remain accountable and that employees can assert their rights.

If You Believe You Experienced Retaliation

If you believe your employer took action against you because you reported discrimination or participated in a discrimination investigation, you may be able to file a complaint.

The Indiana Civil Rights Commission investigates complaints involving discrimination in employment, housing, education, credit, and public accommodations.

To learn more about filing a complaint, visit the How to File a Discrimination Complaint page.