Human resource professionals know complying with workplace anti-discrimination laws is important. Equally important is ensuring that employees who complain about perceived discrimination are not retaliated against for doing so, even if the underlying claim is never proved.
Why is this so important? Retaliation is the most common type of claim filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
“Oftentimes, an employee will be discriminated against first because of a protected characteristic,” says EEOC Commissioner Keith Sonderling. “Then, once they have exercised their right to complain of discrimination or participate in the EEO process, retaliation claims can occur.”
