Abuse and Mistreatment in the Workplace and the Home

You have the right to be free from abuse and harassment in the workplace and in your home! 

Whether at the workplace or at home, it is important to recognize signs of abuse.  

Abuse is not just physical! It can also include: 

  • Threats;
  • Isolation and intimidation;
  • Emotional mistreatment and verbal abuse;
  • Forced sex;
  • Financial abuse; and/or
  • Minimizing the abuse, denying abuse occurred, and blaming others for their abusive behaviors. 

Sexual Harassment is illegal and can take many forms. Regardless of where you are, no one has the right to make:

  • Unwelcome sexual advances;
  • Requests for sexual favors;
  • Unwelcome verbal or physical acts of a sexual nature; and/or
  • Any unwelcome communication of a sexual nature. 

If you are not a citizen, some abusers might try to harm you in other ways, including:

  • Threatening deportation;
  • Hiding or destroying important papers;
  • Refusing to file immigration papers; and/or
  • Threatening to take away your children.

It does not matter whether:

  • You have immigration status, documentation, or lack of documentation;
  • You owe a debt to another person or company; and/or
  • Another person has power in the U.S. or another country. 

Abuse and Mistreatment in the Workplace 

It is illegal for anyone to: 

  • Make false promises about working conditions, living conditions, or pay; 
  • Withhold your wages or bonus to control what you do or where you go;
  • Take away your passport or identification documents to control you or where you go;
  • Use threats or force you to work to pay a debt;
  • Force you to work or live in unsafe conditions or withhold access to medical services;
  • Threaten to report you to Immigration or law enforcement to control your movements or force you to work;
  • Force or pressure you into prostitution or other sexual acts;
  • Use you for any commercial sexual act if you are under 18 (whether or not you have given consent);
  • Deny you employment or housing or treat you differently based on your race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, native language, accent, age, disability, familial status, or because you complained about unlawful conditions, filed a complaint, were injured on the job, or otherwise asserted your rights.
  • Retaliate against you (including threatening to harm you or your family, deportation, arrest, and more) if you:
    • Try to leave your employment;
    • Complain of mistreatment or unsafe working conditions;
    • Report mistreatment or unsafe working conditions to authorities; and/or
    • Seek help or legal counsel. 

Workers have the right to leave their jobs at ANY TIME for ANY REASON.   

  • Your employer cannot have you arrested, imprisoned, or your visa denied for quitting. Workers can contact our office if they have been threatened by their employers or supervisors.  
  • Workers have the right to be paid for all their work completed prior to quitting. Please visit Wages in Michigan for more information.   
  • Workers working under an H-2A visa or contract who wants to leave their employment can visit H-2A Jobs in Michigan for more information about their rights. 

Abuse and Mistreatment at Home  

Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior where one partner maintains power and control over their intimate partner. Domestic violence can happen to anyone, no matter what your gender, age, or national origin is.   

Domestic violence is illegal and can take many forms, but there are legal protections available to you, including Personal Protection Orders (PPO). 

Personal Protection Orders 

A PPO is a court order that can help protect you from threats or violence. 

  • Domestic PPOs
    • A domestic PPO can be filed with the court to help protect you from harassment, abuse, and other forms of mistreatment committed by domestic persons, which includes a current or ex-spouse, your child’s other parent, someone who lives with or used to live with you, or a current or former romantic partner.
    • To receive a domestic PPO, you must show the judge that you have a domestic relationship with the abuser in question and that the abuser is likely to assault, threaten, harass, or stalk you.
  • Non-Domestic PPOs
    • If you’re experiencing threats, harassment, or abuse from someone who does not have a domestic relationship with you (such as a co-worker, acquaintance, etc.), you may file a nondomestic or “Stalking” PPO.
    • To receive a nondomestic PPO, you must show the judge that the abuser in question has harassed you at least twice. “Harassment” means unwanted contact from another person, including through phone calls, text messages, in-person contact, and more. 

Please visit Michigan Legal Help PPO for more information on how to file a domestic or nondomestic PPO.

It is not your fault if you are experiencing abuse. 

Employers cannot refuse to hire you, lower your pay, force you to leave your housing, or fire you because you are a victim of domestic violence. 

To find the nearest shelter or domestic violence agency, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799‑7233 (Operators available in Spanish and many other languages).

If any of the above has happened to you - you may be eligible for: 

  • Monetary damages; 
  • Emergency medical assistance, food, and shelter; 
  • Translation services, counseling, and legal assistance; and/or 
  • Work authorization or immigration status for witnesses and victims of certain crimes (such as VAWA) or labor disputes. Please visit Immigration Basics for more information.  
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Farmworker Employment Rights