Losing a good-paying, steady job is an experience that no California resident wants to face. However, when employment is lost due to such things as retaliation or harassment, the experience can be absolutely devastating. A scenario like this recently made headlines in another state. According to reports, a former Human Resources director was retaliated against for allegedly reporting the inappropriate conduct of a superior, and he subsequently filed a lawsuit.
The man worked as an HR director for a school district in another state. The lawsuit said that the plaintiff was hired to look into the chief financial officer’s alleged misconduct and kept a diary detailing the alleged misbehavior of the district’s chief financial officer. An internal investigation was launched by the district to investigate the chief financial officer’s alleged inappropriate activity and the plaintiff’s diary was used by investigators, the lawsuit said.
According to the lawsuit, the investigation found that the chief financial officer used school property for personal use, solicited vendors for over $3,000 in donations for his son’s hockey team and fabricated time cards. The plaintiff also claimed that the chief financial officer made threats against employees for talking with human resources. After reporting this behavior to investigators, the plaintiff claims the district eliminated his position in retaliation. The lawsuit ended in the plaintiff receiving a settlement of nearly $1 million.
In the state California, employees are protected and have a right to speak up about illegal and inappropriate activity in the workplace without fear of retaliation. Workers that face retaliation in the workplace can pursue legal action. A successful lawsuit could result in financial relief to help replace lost wages and ease the psychological pain and suffering associated with this type of experience.
Source: desmoinesregister.com, “Waukee schools will pay former HR director $985,000“, Kim Norvell, Jan. 22, 2018