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Woman claims retaliation after Blue Lives Matter flag complaints

On Behalf of | Feb 6, 2019 | Retaliation

Many workers face instances at work where they feel that they or others are being unfairly treated or that someone else’s actions are causing difficulties in the workplace. As a result, workers may complain to their superiors about the actions in hopes of reaching a resolution. Unfortunately, some workers may end up facing retaliation for their efforts.

New York readers may be interested in a lawsuit that was recently filed in another state that claims retaliation. Apparently, an African-American woman who works as a corrections technician for her county’s Department of Community Justice complained after a probation officer put up a Blue Lives Matter flag in his office. The woman and other African-American employees complained about the flag to their supervisors due to its demeaning implications to the Black Lives Matter movement.

The supervisors did not require the flag’s removal, and after it stayed up for over six months, the woman put up pictures of minorities who had been killed by law enforcement. Management told her to remove her photos, but the woman refused because the other worker’s flag remained. Managers later issued a regulation that personal photos had to be smaller than 5-by-7 inches, and later that same day, the woman found two derogatory notes on her wall indicating that other workers were displeased with the regulation and blamed her. The woman felt that she was retaliated against and felt unsafe at work due to resulting hostility for her complaints, which led to her lawsuit.

Workplace retaliation can come in many forms, and when workers no longer feel safe at work, action may be necessary. If New York employees believe that they have been unfairly treated due to complaints or other actions, they may want to have their cases assessed by legal professionals. Some instances may warrant legal action.