Employees have the right to a workplace that is free of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
• Discrimination – Employment decisions made based on protected characteristics such as age, disability, race, religion, or sex; An employee being treated differently than coworkers who are not part of their protected category. • Harassment – Constant and pervasive behavior that creates a hostile work environment that is intolerable and prevents the employee from being able to perform their job. Illegal harassment is when this behavior is motivated by discrimination or retaliation. Sexual harassment is considered sex-based discrimination under employment law. • Retaliation – An employer taking adverse employment action such as cut hours, reduced pay, unwarranted writeups, and termination as punishment for an employee engaging in a protected activity such as opposing discrimination or taking FMLA leave.
There are basic protections under federal law, and individual states may have their own additions. Anything not protected under federal law might be protected in one state and not another. This can become more complicated for people who work remotely. It is important to know which laws apply to you and what rights and protections you have.