Whenever someone reports an incident of wrongdoing or a safety issue at their place of work, they may expect the necessary changes to be made. However, there are times when an employer acts out in retaliation when someone reports some sort of wrongdoing. This illegal maneuver by an employer can take on the form of demotion, wrongful termination or even harassment. Any educator in Colorado may be interested in how one case of retaliation against an employee has ended in a settlement.
The case making news pertains to an educator at a youth correctional facility. The educator reported safety violations. She also reported incidents involving harassment and bullying. She claims she lost her job for filing the complaints and therefore, filed suit.
Three years after filing suit, the case has been resolved. The teacher was given the opportunity to return to teaching on a substitute basis. She also garnered a monetary settlement. The woman’s employer agreed to settle but contends that she was not retaliated against and their move to settle the case is not an admission of being guilty of the charges the woman made.
Cases of retaliation in the workplace can be difficult to prove. However, when there is clear evidence that someone has suffered retaliation from a superior for either reporting incidents of concern or acting as a “whistleblower,” that employee has certain rights and protections in Colorado and elsewhere. Any settlement of a case of retaliation or wrongful termination can include getting one’s job back and/or a monetary settlement that can vary according to the circumstances of the case.
Source: statesmanjournal.com, WESD finalizes $150,000 settlement with former teacher over whistleblower lawsuit, No author, Nov. 1, 2013
