Filing A Retaliation Complaint
For certain retaliation claims, you may have to file a complaint with a government agency before you go to court. For example, if you were fired for complaining of workplace harassment or discrimination, you will need to first file a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. If you want to sue for wrongful termination in violation of the Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower protections, you must first file a complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Not all retaliation claims are subject to this rule, however. And, for some types of retaliation claims, you may—but are not required to—file an administrative charge before going to court. Your lawyer can help you figure out the requirements for your particular claim in your state.
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