Nursing Home Whistleblowers
Nursing home patients are among the most vulnerable populations in the country. It is heartbreaking to think of senior citizens being neglected or abused, but unfortunately it happens every day. The National Center on Elder Abuse in the United States reports that over 30% of nursing homes across our country engage in some form of abusive or neglectful behavior.
The good news is that many nursing home employees are caring people who are dedicated to their jobs. Even within poorly managed nursing homes, there are individual employees who refuse to mistreat their patients. Some employees are even brave enough to report the problems they have seen, either to a superior at work, a government official, or the media.
These employees should be applauded for their compassion and integrity. All too often, however, they only receive punishment from their managers. This is known as retaliation, and it is illegal.
Nursing Home Retaliation
Retaliation against nursing home employees who report problems in the workplace can take many forms. Some common methods used by employers to punish or intimidate whistleblowers are:
- Undeserved demotion or other disciplinary measures
- Wrongful termination
- Unfairly negative performance reviews
- Harassment or even physical threats
If your employer is trying to punish you for reporting abuse, or intimidate you into withdrawing a claim, you do not have to accept this behavior.
Fighting Workplace Retaliation
The first step towards defending your rights is to contact an Austin nursing home retaliation attorney. Your attorney will review the details of your case, offer important legal advice, and argue for your rights in court. You can end the harassment you are experiencing, but you must be prepared for a legal fight.
Speak with a knowledgeable Austin workplace retaliation attorney today.