What To Know About Being Harassed When Filing For Workers' Comp

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If you were injured on the job, you have a right to make a workers' comp claim to help recover from the losses related to your injury. However, doing so may cause how you are treated in your workplace to change in a bad way. Here is what to know about harassment in the workplace after making a workers' comp claim.

What's Considered Workplace Harassment

Being harassed at work for your actions can happen in a variety of ways, both subtle and blatant. It can be quite obvious, with being teased or called names from co-workers or management about your claim. You may be given hours that are not as desirable compared to the schedule you had before your injury. Management may become more strict with you about things that were non-issues before the injury. In some situations, you may even find yourself being demoted or wrongfully terminated from your job without your employer having a valid reason.

Know that this type of behavior is not legal, and is strictly prohibited by law. Not only are there federal laws regarding the protection of employees from harassment, but there are likely state laws as well that are designed to protect you.

What To Do When Suffering From Workplace Harassment

It is important that you keep detailed records about what type of harassment is happening to you. Start by keeping a written journal that lists when it happened, who was involved, what they did, and who was an eyewitness to the harassment. If there is a witness, have them sign a document that says they will be up for testifying on your behalf if necessary. If there is some way to document the harassment with a photo or video, this will further back up your case.

When To Report Workplace Harassment

In order for something to be done about workplace harassment, you need to formally notify your employer about what happened. They may be able to act quickly and stop the harassment from happening again, and the formal notice will help prove your case that they knew about what was happening. Once the employer knows, any continued harassment will further back up your claim about what is going on at your place of employment.

If you need to take steps to deal with workplace harassment or wrongful termination, be sure to work with an attorney. They can help form a case based on the evidence you documented, and make sure that you are not a victim in this situation.