The state laws protect employees from adverse actions by their employers. If your employer treats you poorly in retaliation for something you had the rights to do as an employee, you might have grounds for a case against them. A New Jersey employment attorney will be able to go over your case with you to determine if you were subjected to retaliation as a result of performing an act, asking for something or refusing to do something you consider illegal.
The First Step
When you feel as if you are being retaliated against, you need to be able to prove the action you were trying to perform that caused your employer to act negatively. Whether you were refusing to perform a task you felt was illegal or you complained to your employer about unfair treatment, if your employer treated you in a negative fashion after the act, you might have a retaliation case. An attorney will be able to tell you if the circumstances that surround the actions warrant a case with the court.
The Action
The most difficult part in any case is actually proving the negative action your employer took against you. Whether you were fired, treated poorly, discriminated against or had pay withheld, you need to be able to prove it was due to the action you took. Your New Jersey employment attorney will help you determine if there is enough evidence to prove the retaliation.
The Connection
Once the two pieces of the act you performed as an employee and the action of retaliation by your employer are proven, your attorney needs to be able to connect the two pieces. This means they have to prove the retaliation coincides with the action you took. If too much time passes in between the two actions, it might be difficult to prove. On the other hand, if the action, such as being demoted or fired, occurs right away, it is easier to prove.
If you feel as if you were subjected to retaliation by your employer, it is best to contact a New Jersey employment attorney right away. The sooner you have your case evaluated and gather the proof, the more difficult it is for your employer to hide the evidence of what occurred. You have every right to not be retaliated against, but it can be difficult to prove the case without proper evidence.