Identifying High-Risk Areas for Workplace Discrimination and Retaliation

In this episode, Wendy Sellers and Derek T. Smith discuss the workplace dynamics that frequently lead to discrimination and retaliation claims. Derek shares insights from his legal practice on why policies alone do not prevent misconduct and what organizations should watch for when it comes to retaliation, microaggressions, and workplace relationships.

Host Wendy Sellers speaks with Derek T. Smith, an employment discrimination and sexual harassment attorney representing employees, about why retaliation remains the most common workplace complaint despite policies that claim to prohibit it. Drawing on more than three decades of legal experience, Derek explains where organizations often create risk and how leadership behaviors, culture, and fear-driven systems contribute to workplace conflict. They also dive into the realities of microaggressions and the complexities of in-office romances.