Verbal abuse in the workplace has become so common that some employees get confused about whether they are entitled even to take action against their employer or not. Many people think listening to whatever their boss says to them is a part of the job, so keep quiet. However, it is important to know what constitutes verbal abuse and your rights.
If your employee has engaged in verbal abuse with you or your coworker, a San Antonio employment discrimination lawyer can help you.
What constitutes workplace verbal abuse?
When your employer says a negative statement to you about yourself in a demeaning manner, it is known as workplace verbal abuse. If your employer does not respond to you when you speak to them or ask them something, it also counts as verbal abuse as they try to make you seem non-existent.
When people verbally abuse you, they are not apologetic about their behavior and thus, do not do anything to correct their mistakes. Your employer may even bond with other people to “team-up” against you.
Here are some examples of workplace verbal abuse:
- Being teased or bullied in the workplace.
- Being threatened by your employer.
- Other employees or another employer purposefully embarrasses you.
- People seem to be spreading rumors about you in the workplace.
- You are yelled at and cursed at.
- You are insulted or mocked.
Can you sue your employer for verbally abusing you in the workplace?
Unfortunately, no federal or state law says that employers cannot verbally abuse their employees. However, if your employer has used discriminatory sentences while abusing you, you may have a case.
The US government prohibits workplace discrimination in all states, which means the employer is not allowed to engage in any activity that demonstrates they are discriminating against the employee.
For example, you are protected by the US government against color discrimination. Now, if your employer has said something demeaning regarding your skin color, you can file a claim.
All in all, if you and your attorney can successfully prove that the remarks made by your employer while they were abusing you were a form of discrimination, you may be able to hold them accountable for their actions.
Steps to take when you experience verbal abuse at the workplace
If you are a victim of workplace abuse, make sure you take these steps as soon as possible.
- Document every incident and gather whatever evidence you can.
- Reach out to Human Resources for help.
- If step 2 does not solve your problem, contact an attorney for help.
Being abused by your employer can be disheartening and demotivating. Contact an experienced lawyer today for employer class action defense los angeles ca.
