There may be incidents when an employer and an employee simply don’t see eye to eye and can’t work without conflict or worse. While it isn’t illegal or unusual to not necessarily like each other or get along, it is illegal for an employer to use his or her position to retaliate against an employee. Anyone in Colorado who feels that employer retaliation is the reason he or she has suffered negative consequences related to work may want to understand the specifics of what is needed in order to pursue a case of employer retaliation.
First and foremost, there must be a specific activity that is defined as a “protected activity.” In some cases, a protected activity may mean filing a complaint against an employer through the proper channels. Also, opposing or speaking out against a practice that is wrong or discriminatory is considered a protected activity.
Then, that specific “protected activity” must have direct negative consequences for the employee who feels retaliated against. These negative consequences must impact your finances related to work or change your employment status directly. This may mean a demotion, being fired or having a negative review affect your ability to move forward with our career.
Employer retaliation may be difficult to prove in Colorado, but it does happen. When it does, employees need to document any evidence and understand their rights so as to prevent the retaliation from continuing or impacting other areas of life. Our website has more specific information about employer retaliation and what rights an employee may have.
