Fight a Crooked Employer With a Tennessee Retaliation Lawyer
Getting fired may not always be illegal, unless it occurs soon after an employee reports a safety hazard or speaks up about laws the company violated. Those are just a couple of examples of retaliation, or harm by an employer against an employee.
When things like this happen, there are people willing to fight for you. You can find them here at Punchwork Law. We help our clients file a charge with the Tennessee Civil Rights Enforcement Division (CRED) or, if necessary, with the EEOC.
We cite all applicable federal and state laws governing employees’ rights against retaliation. In other words, we’ll help place the law on your side. Book a free consultation and talk with us to get started.
What Is Workplace Retaliation?
Retaliation is when your employer does something to harm you in return for an action you took. This could involve filing a complaint about workplace discrimination or reporting a case of sexual harassment.
These negative acts against you can come in many forms. The purpose of retaliation is to make your job conditions worse so that you might eventually leave, or take back any charges you’ve raised, so your employers can avoid being held accountable.
Proving you’re a victim of retaliation can be difficult, but it is possible. Here’s what Punchwork attorney and founder, Chris Burks, has to say on building a strong retaliation case in court:
“It is rare to get a perfect admission in writing, so we often use indirect or circumstantial evidence. A lot of it comes down to timing. Judges and Juries aren’t stupid, they can infer from indirect evidence what really happened.”
In order to ensure the best proof and results for your case, talk to a workplace retaliation attorney. Tennessee employees can rely on us at Punchwork Law, an employment law firm with a team of experts in retaliation. And if you were fired for saying something? You’ll also find experienced Tennessee wrongful termination lawyers who will do everything in our power to ensure your employer doesn’t get away with it.
Examples of Retaliation
Below are some clear examples of illegal retaliation you may experience from your employer:
- Termination
- Demotion
- Lowered pay or work hours
- Openly hostile work environment
- Unreasonably bad performance reviews
- Exclusion from company events or work opportunities
These are some of the various direct and indirect forms of retaliation that an employer may use against you. Even if they’re subtle, make a record of them and talk to an experienced employment lawyer to find out if you have a valid case.
Types of Protected Activity
Retaliation itself is illegal, particularly when it’s committed against employees for legally protected activities. These include:
- Reporting on workplace discrimination or refusing to commit an act that would break anti-discrimination laws
- Filing an information complaint against certain management practices
- Acting as a witness or offering evidence as part of an internal or external investigation
- Requesting lawful accommodations or medical leave, as well as workers’ compensation after getting hurt on the job
- Reporting health or safety code violations against one’s company
- Whistleblowing on illegal activities such as fraud, waste, environmental damage, or other shady business practices
If your employer interferes with or harms you in any way after performing any of these activities, there is strong cause to accuse them of illegal retaliation.
To see if you have a strong case, talk to a reliable retaliation lawyer in Tennessee. Contact Punchwork Law, a trusted employment law firm, and book a free consult today.
Retaliation, By the Numbers
If you sense that you’re experiencing some form of retaliation, please know that you aren’t alone. Retaliation is one of the most common charges filed with the EEOC by employees.
In 2024, the Center for Workplace Compliance reported an increase in filings, indicating that, of the 88,531 charges filed, around 42,301 charges involved retaliation,. That’s nearly half of all the charges filed in that year!
Additionally, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reported that, in 2022, the state of Tennessee handled 1,513 retaliation charges out of 2,599 total charges. That was more than half!
In short, retaliation is a huge employment law issue in the US, one where employees might need help giving their employers a legal kick in the teeth to remind them you have rights, too. Let Punchwork Law, a team of employer retaliation attorneys in TN, help make that happen.
Federal and State Laws Against Retaliation in Tennessee
There are two major agencies you can turn to if you want to file a retaliation charge against your employer. At the federal level, you can go to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
The EEOC is the US Government’s primary agency for enforcing federal and state laws against discrimination and retaliation. Hire a Tennessee Employment Retaliation lawyer from Punchwork, and we’ll help you file and process your case without delay.
At the state level, you also have the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office. Specifically, the Civil Rights Enforcement Division (CRED). This organization enforces Tennessee’s anti-discrimination laws and laws against employer retaliation.
When filing with either agency, make sure your case is solid with help from a Tennessee discrimination lawyer at Punchwork Law.
Below are some of the different federal and state laws that can apply to your retaliation case:
Federal Laws Against Retaliation
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act: Major law that covers retaliation against race, color, national origin, religion, sex, and pregnancy
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Protects people from retaliation for seeking medical accommodations or reporting against disability discrimination
- Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA): Ensures that workers over the age of 40 do not suffer any form of retaliation because of their age
- Equal Pay Act: Defends employees from any form of wage discrimination, including retaliation
The State Law Against Retaliation
Tennessee Code § 4-21-301(1) is the main state law against employer retaliation. It directly bans employers from taking adverse action against an employee who engages in a protected activity.
In other words, it’s illegal for an employer to punish you for doing something lawful and good, like filing a complaint over a safety hazard or discriminatory action, or for taking part in an investigation into your workplace.
What a Tennessee Retaliation Lawyer Can Get You
Winning a retaliation case against an employer doesn’t just mean they finally face the consequences of their illegal actions. It’s also a chance to help make you whole again, whether you lost wages or your job entirely.
Here’s what one of our Tennessee employment lawyers and a successful THRA retaliation claim can bring you:
- Back pay (lost wages, commissions, etc.)
- Compensatory damages (for emotional suffering and humiliation)
- Attorney’s fees
- Reinstatement to your job (if desired)
- Court orders to stop illegal actions and change practices moving forward
Let our team at Punchwork Law ensure your employer feels it for retaliating against you. Holding abusive employers accountable and making them pay is why we fight so hard in every case.
What Punchwork Law Does for Our Clients
Our law firm is there when employees suffer any form of retaliation after a complaint. TN workers can trust us to help rein in employers and get them the justice and damages they deserve.
Here’s what we do across the entire retaliation case process:
- Free Consultation – Schedule a consult. We listen with no judgment. We then offer our expertise and recommendations for your case.
- Investigation – As your lawyers, we’ll gather evidence and speak with any witnesses. We build a strong case showing that your employer’s harmful action is directly connected to your protected activity, proving retaliation. The more evidence you have on timing between the two, the better.
- Filing Your Complaint – When your case is ready to file, we’ll handle the paperwork with the Tennessee Attorney General’s CRED or the EEOC. We make sure you meet all deadlines and that your case is processed fast.
- Negotiation – At times, employers offer to settle rather than go to court. In those cases, we can negotiate on your behalf. We’ll fight hard to get you fair compensation. We can resolve issues there if they want to.
- Litigation – If necessary, we can help you take your employer to court. There, we’ll showcase how clear your employer’s retaliatory actions were, and how badly it’s harmed you and your loved ones.
Your Case Matters. Let Us Help You Win It.
At Punchwork Law, we have worked through countless employment law cases. We see the damage that abusive employers can do to a person’s life.
Your job, the source of your livelihood, shouldn’t be another problem on top of so many others. Let’s stand up together and defend your rights as an employee.
Fight a wrongful termination retaliation in Tennessee. Talk to Punchwork Law today. Contact us for a free consultation.
