The Federal Process for Poor Treatment in the Workplace
Most employees do not have a clear picture of how to manage employment discrimination or retaliation until they are faced with such a situation. Because of this, handling the process can be complicated, especially if you have little knowledge of the process. As a federal employee, the process can be different and in some cases requires managing the process directly with the federal agency you work for. There are a number of signs that would indicate taking action, however, it’s important that you are as proactive as possible during the process. Facing a federal agency as an employee can feel daunting, because of this, you will surely want the legal protection that an employment discrimination lawyer can provide for you.
Signs You May Want to File a Complaint
As a federal employee, you have a right to be treated fairly in the workplace. While the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) largely manages complaints to prevent workplace discrimination, as a federal employee, the federal agency you work for will likely manage your complaint. When you file a complaint, it’s important that your employer takes this seriously and works towards remedying the situation. Signs that you may want to file a complaint include:
- Not being provided reasonable accommodations for a disability
- Not receiving equal pay in the workplace as others doing the same job
- Harassment
- Being treated unfairly due to pregnancy or childbirth
- Protection of a person’s religion or belief system
- Retaliation including:
- Being demoted, fired, or treated poorly as a result of filing a complaint in the workplace
It’s not uncommon for employees to let poor treatment go, not wanting to stir the pot or making things worse by taking action. However, it’s important that you know that as an employee who has filed an EEO complaint, it is illegal for your employer to retaliate against you. By taking the lead with the assistance of a lawyer, you can ensure that the proper direction is taken.
The Federal Merit Systems Protection Board
The Federal Merit Systems Protection Board is in place to protect federal employees from practices that are prohibited. If you are a federal employee, you may be particularly interested in learning more about the Federal Merit Systems Protection Board. As a part of the executive branch of the federal government, the MSPB oversees discrimination cases. If an employee is unhappy with the decision, they can request to have the EEOC review the MSPB’s decision.