The facts may appear evident to a person involved in a case of wrongful termination, harassment, or retaliation. After all, it may seem like something that everyone should be able to notice if you have endured an employer or management treating you unjustly or illegally at work for a prolonged length of time.
However, despite what might appear unfair, many instances cannot be judged only on how a person feels. It is frequently required to provide evidence that you were dismissed or harassed that is more concrete. That is why obtaining the testimony of one or more witnesses might be crucial to establishing your case. Read on to learn more and then contact PLBH at (800) 435-7542 or info@plblaw.com to learn how we can help you.
Many cases are one person’s word against another’s
It may frequently come down to who a judge or jury believes in employment law cases: the manager who insists he did not harass an employee or the employee who said he did. What if you had a second witness, such as an employee who is not entitled to compensation from the case, who could attest to having seen the harassment?
It can significantly affect an employee’s capacity to prove his or her case if a witness is prepared to testify that he witnessed the harassment or sign a statement attesting to it. When a jury may not be sure who to believe, it might be very crucial both during settlement discussions and throughout a trial.
Take a situation of retribution, for instance. Employee X may have been informed that his termination was due to other factors, such as poor performance or a lack of work, if he had complained about safety violations prior to the termination. It can be challenging to refute this reasoning. Employee X was dismissed in retribution for complaining about safety, but if employee Y claims the manager warned him not to complain about safety if he wants to maintain his job, that would be proof.
Comparably, it could be challenging to demonstrate that a worker was the victim of sexual harassment at work. A manager may have harassed a young waitress into going out on a date with him, cornered her and tried to persuade her to kiss him, or grabbed her bottom as she passed past him. While it could be difficult for the waitress to substantiate these claims on her own, it would be far more convincing if her coworkers signed statements attesting to their knowledge of the harassment.
Witnesses are generally unbiased
A benefit of having witness statements is that these witnesses are frequently thought to be more believable since they have nothing to gain by testifying or giving a statement; in fact, they could get into problems with their supervisor as a result. This can make these claims even more valuable in supporting a claim under employment law.
Obtaining a witness statement might assist you support your case if you have experienced workplace harassment or retaliation from your employer. An experienced employment law attorney can assist you in compiling solid evidence to support your claim, including by using witness testimonies.
Our devoted staff at PLBH has more than 50 years of combined expertise managing employment law disputes. Set up a free first consultation with us by calling (800) 435-7542 or emailing info@plblaw.com to discover more about how we can assist you.