Short but informative article today in The Washington Post about the rapid growth of employment retaliation claims — fifth year in a row that it has overtaken all other discrimination claims.

Employers should carefully study our many posts about retaliation!

For an explanation the author cites, among other things, the Supreme Court decisions in Burlington and Thompson, as well as changing workplace attitudes — as summed up by an EEOC attorney:   “It’s employees becoming more aware of their rights and being willing to exercise them.  I see often where there’s sexual harassment that in the past might have been tolerated, now is leading to internal complaints of discrimination, and that then sets the stage for retaliation of some sort.”

Takeaway:  Don’t get caught retaliating; read our post of April 10, 2013 entitled “A Refresher Course For Employers On Retaliation.”