Which action illustrates retaliation?

• A. An employer terminates an employee after the employee opposed discriminatory practice.
• B. An employer provides a raise after an employee filed a complaint.
• C. An employee reports a safety violation.
• D. A manager promotes a coworker for good performance.

Answer: (A)

Retaliation happens when someone is punished for engaging in a protected activity, such as opposing discrimination or filing a complaint. The action shown fits this precisely: an employer terminates an employee after the employee opposed discriminatory practice. The punishment is directly tied to the employee’s protected action, which is the hallmark of retaliation and is typically illegal. The other options describe positive or unrelated actions—a raise after a complaint, reporting a safety violation, or a promotion for good performance—none of which involve punishing someone for exercising protected rights.