How to Spot Workplace Retaliation After You Speak Up

Retaliation at work is way more common than people realize. You speak up about harassment, discrimination, or a toxic environment, and suddenly your job gets harder, colder, or you get pushed out completely. A lot of people think this is just “bad luck” or “HR doing their job,” but many times it’s actually illegal.

In this episode of The Glamorous Grind, Ilona and Mila talk openly about what really happens behind the scenes when you report something at work and your employer starts treating you differently. Mila shares what she sees every day as an employment attorney, and Ilona adds her perspective on how businesses try to protect themselves and where things go wrong.

Here’s what we break down together:
How to tell the difference between an at-will firing and wrongful termination
What your rights are if HR refuses to put anything in writing
What remedies employees can pursue like back pay and emotional distress damages
How smaller companies can defend themselves when they are wrongly accused

CHAPTERS:
00:00 What retaliation actually looks like under California law
00:59 Reel Justice: Reacting to a scene from Mad Men
10:44 Legal Decode: What the law says about retaliation
14:45 Red Flag/Green Flag: Debunking company behaviors
23:04 Let's Get Gritty: Audience Question
25:57 Glam Tip of the Week: Stand up for yourself!

If you’re trying to understand whether your firing, demotion, or job change was retaliation, this episode will give you clarity and real-world steps to take.

Hosted by:
Ilona Antonyan, Certified Family Law Specialist
Mila Arutunian, Trial Attorney in Employment and Personal Injury