Walmart employees protest their employer in Miami on Black Friday

The union, United Food and Commercial Workers, threatened large walk-offs of Walmart employees on Black Friday in response to the employer's alleged intolerable workplace and employment practices. Although many agree that Walmart violates employment rights, only a limited number of protests actually occurred. Some of the protests took place in Florida in Miami-Dade County.

Walmart workers accuse their employer of engaging in retaliation when employees file complaints. In addition, they contend that Walmart does not sufficiently compensate its employees--paying out low hourly pay. Walmart denies these allegations and believes that it offers pay and benefit packages that are at least as good as, if not better than, its retail competitors to all Walmart employees.

Retaliation lawsuits are on the rise in Florida as more workers are recognizing and fighting for the rights that they have. Retaliation is any adverse action that an employer takes against an employee in response to the employee filing harassment or discrimination claims. Such retaliatory action can include pay reductions or discipline as well as less obvious conduct like moving a worker to another office to avoid his or her alleged harasser-or even demoting the employee by, for example, moving him or her to a different department all together.

If a Florida worker believes that he or she has been retaliated against by his or her employer, like the Walmart employees, it is important to identify possible legal remedies. The law is a protector of employees. Workers should be aware of this source of protection against retaliation and use it and other legal resources to secure the benefits and remedies that they deserve.

Source: NBCMiami.com, "Black Friday Walmart Protest Held in Miami-Dade," Myriam Masihy, Nov. 23, 2012