3 Mistakes employees make that will put a target on your back. #employeerights #jobsecurity #toxic

About this video

• Video Title: 3 Mistakes employees make that will put a target on your back. #employeerights #jobsecurity #toxic
• Channel: Regina Molden, Employee Rights Attorney
• Speakers: Regina Molden
• Duration: 00:07:00

Overview

This video explains three common mistakes employees make when reporting issues like discrimination or harassment, which can inadvertently put them at risk. The attorney advises on how to properly document complaints to protect their rights and avoid negative repercussions.

Key takeaways

• Verbal Complaints Are Insufficient: Relying solely on verbal complaints to a manager or HR about discrimination or harassment is a mistake. Without written documentation, employers can easily misinterpret, misremember, or deny the complaint, leaving the employee unprotected.
• Complaints Rarely Stay Confidential: Employees should not expect their complaints to HR to remain confidential. HR's primary role is to protect the company, and they are obligated to investigate complaints, which often involves informing the person accused.
• Insufficient Written Complaints Are Dangerous: Simply putting a complaint in writing is not enough if it's vague or doesn't clearly state the issue (e.g., "race discrimination" instead of "she's unfair"). Vague complaints can be used by employers to dismiss the issue or as grounds to terminate the employee, claiming they didn't understand the severity or nature of the complaint.
• Proper Documentation is Crucial: To protect yourself, complaints must be in writing, clearly state the nature of the discrimination or harassment (using specific terms like "race discrimination"), and a copy should be kept by the employee.