Washington Whistleblower & Retaliation lawyer
Standing Up Should Not Cost You Your Job
When you report harassment, discrimination, unpaid wages, safety hazards, or fraud, the law protects you from punishment. Nigel Malden Law represents employees across Tacoma, University Place, Puyallup, and the North End who faced demotion, pay cuts, hostile shifts, or termination after doing the right thing. If your report involved bias or harassment, see how
workplace discrimination and retaliation claims work together to strengthen your case.
What Counts As Protected Activity
Protected activity includes reporting discrimination or harassment, refusing unlawful orders, filing wage complaints, requesting accommodations, taking FMLA leave, reporting safety issues, or cooperating in an investigation. Retaliation is any adverse action that would deter a reasonable person from speaking up, such as a firing, demotion, shift change that cuts hours, or negative references after separation.
Signs You Are Facing Retaliation
Watch for sudden discipline after a clean record, schedule changes that reduce income, exclusion from meetings, or performance plans that appear right after a complaint. In Tacoma and Pierce County courts, timelines matter. We build a clear chronology to connect your protected activity to what happened next.
Agency Filings And Early Strategy
Many cases begin with an administrative charge. Nigel prepares filings, preserves evidence, and manages deadlines so your claim is not dismissed on technicalities. If your matter is tied to discrimination or harassment, coordinated
EEOC mediation can resolve disputes early while we prepare for litigation if needed.
When Retaliation Ends In Termination
If speaking up cost you your job, you may have a claim for
wrongful termination in addition to retaliation. We gather emails, texts, witness statements, and policy documents to show pretext and seek back pay, front pay, and other remedies. For clients in Seattle and Olympia as well as Tacoma, much of the process can be handled remotely.
Guidance for Small Employers
If you are a small business owner seeking to handle a complaint correctly, Nigel provides practical advice on investigations, interim measures, and consistent application of policies to reduce risk while respecting employee rights.
How Nigel Malden Law Builds Your Case
You will work directly with an attorney who knows Washington employment law and local Pierce County procedures. We organize a timeline, interview witnesses, calculate damages, and prepare for mediation or trial. Employers often argue that discipline was about performance. Strong documentation helps reveal the real motive.
Protect Your Privacy Today
Privacy harms feel personal because they are. If you are in Tacoma, Olympia, Seattle, or anywhere in Washington State, Nigel Malden Law will explain next steps in plain language and move fast to reduce further exposure. For directions to our downtown Tacoma office near Court A and the Port of Tacoma, or to discuss a remote consultation, reach out and contact us to get started.