Retaliatory actions taken against whistleblowers can easily make a person feel like they have somehow made the wrong decision by trying to help other workers out.
Though it is unfortunate in its own way, over half of all workplace complaints involve retaliatory actions. Thus, those who suffer through it are not alone, and there are plenty of resources to peruse and options to take into account.
Types of retaliation
NPR discusses tips for handling retaliations at work due to whistleblowing. Many retaliatory actions happen in an attempt to get someone to quit their job without outright getting fired. While up to 70 percent of retaliation efforts come from managers, the rest can come from coworkers who display loyalty to the management. Together, these people can take steps to push you out.
This can include physically or verbally abusing you, demoting you, making intentionally poor evaluations, demanding unreasonable workloads, exclusion from workplace activities, and intentionally getting the assignments no one else wants.
Escalation and hanging on despite it
Many people will go to great lengths to make their actions seem legitimate, so you may feel like you have no way to even prove the retaliatory aspect at first. Over time, these efforts to get you to leave may continue to escalate, though.
Up to 40 percent of people who experience this type of retaliation still stay with their job, even so. Whether it is out of a love for the job, a desire not to let bullies win, or any other reason, it is important to have the backing you need when tackling such a case head-on.