Retaliation

Retaliation is when an employer punishes you for engaging in protected activities. Retaliation can happen while you are employed or an employer could retaliate against you by firing you. Both federal and state laws protect against employer retaliation.

Federal Law

Federal law protects workers from retaliation in many contexts. The right agency to contact depends on the circumstances, but examples include:

• Retaliation for exercising your federal wage and overtime-related rights
  • Contact the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division
• Retaliation relating to your workplace health and safety rights
  • Contact OSHA
• Retaliation relating to your right to organize with your coworkers/form a union
  • Contact the NLRB
• Retaliation relating to employment discrimination
  • Contact the EEOC
• Retaliation relating to citizenship/immigration status
  • Contact the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division
• Retaliation relating to your rights as a Veteran or service member
  • Contact the Department of Labor's Veterans Employment and Training Service

Iowa Law

Iowa OSHA protects a worker who reports unsafe or unhealthy work conditions. More information is available on Iowa OSHA’s Whistleblower page.

The Iowa Civil Rights Act makes it illegal to retaliate against someone who:

• lawfully opposes practices outlawed by the Iowa Civil Rights Act
• follows the Iowa Civil Rights Act
• files a complaint under the Iowa Civil Rights Act
• testifies or assists in proceedings under the Iowa Civil Rights Act

Iowa Code section 216.11. To report retaliation under the Iowa Civil Rights Act, you can contact the Iowa Civil Rights Commission.