Like most of your neighbors in Southern Shores, you work hard to build a good life for yourself and your family. You bring work ethic, dedication and talent to the job site every day. If you hurt yourself on the job, though, you may not be able to put food on the table. Filing a workers’ compensation claim is often the best way to make ends meet.
In North Carolina, employers may not retaliate against those who pursue benefits through the workers’ compensation system. If you think your employer is not treating you fairly because of your claim, you must act diligently to protect your job and find important legal remedies. Still, identifying retaliation can be tricky. Here are four signs your employer may be using your workers’ compensation claim to retaliate against you:
1. Your employer changes your shift
You probably love working regular hours. After all, you have family and other responsibilities to take care of when off the clock. If your employer asks you to work to a different shift, you may have a bigger problem than inconvenience. That is, by requiring you to work inconvenient hours, your employer may engage in illegal retaliation.
2. Your employer picks someone else for a promotion
When you clock in, you try your best to fulfill your duties. As a result, your past reviews have indicated you are on track for a promotion or raise. If, after you pursue a workers’ compensation filing, your employer promotes someone else, you may have the foundation for a retaliation claim.
3. Your employer shuns you
Not all workplaces are fun. Nonetheless, you should not have to put up with the cold shoulder. If your employer excludes you from meetings or other job activities, your workers’ compensation claim may be to blame.
4. Your employer fires you
If your workplace injury prevents you from doing your job, your employer can legally terminate your employment. Your employer may not, however, fire you simply because you filed a workers’ compensation claim.
Retaliation for workers’ compensation filings is both illegal and more common than you may think. Fortunately, you do not have to let your employer get away with impermissible conduct. By watching for the signs of retaliation, you can better determine when to put up a fight.
