Reorganizations are a reality for many businesses. Companies may choose to restructure to improve efficiency, decrease costs, and protect the business’ bottom line.
When a company goes through a reorg, layoffs are generally expected.
But some companies will use a reorg as an excuse to lay off certain groups of employees or retaliate against others:
- Older employees
- Pregnant employees
- Employees of a certain race, religion or ethnic background
- Employees with a disability
- Whistleblowers, or employees who have previously made a complaint to management or HR against the company
- Other employees who are members of a protected class
Recognizing this type of discrimination can be difficult, especially when the company denies the allegations. But terminated employees may notice trends among those who were fired or laid off.
If you believe that you may have experienced discrimination during a company reorg, here are some questions to ask yourself:
- How were employees selected for elimination?
- Did my employer show any other signs of discrimination before the reorg?
- Did I make a complaint to HR or management in the months before the reorg?
It is important for employees to be aware of their rights. Discrimination in the workplace is illegal, and employees are protected by powerful state and federal employment laws.
If you were fired for discriminatory reasons, and your company blamed it on downsizing, you should talk to an employment law attorney. Call 866-295-7512 to reach our office in Pasadena.
Learn more in our free white paper: Downsizing And Discrimination: An Illegal Combination
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