Relations · HR glossary

Retaliation

Retaliation is adverse treatment because a person engaged in an activity protected by applicable law or policy, such as raising certain concerns or participating in an investigation.

Example

An employee reports alleged discrimination and is then excluded from opportunities for that reason, raising a potential retaliation concern.

What to keep in mind

Protected activities and prohibited responses vary by jurisdiction. A later management decision is not automatically retaliation, but employers should examine evidence and avoid disadvantaging people for lawfully raising concerns.

Further reading

← Browse all HR terms