In the not to distant past I reported my Director for verbally abusing one of my employees while I was on vacation. I work in a "right to work" state and within two months I was fired for "job performance" issues in a job that I had been doing quite well for 5 years. I also "suspect" that I was fired as retaliation but I have no proof.
Sorry to hear that Tex. But you "suspect" and don't know for sure...correct? Did you sue for discrimination based on your suspicions? Was there a potential issue with your job performance? Be honest.
I'm sure you acknowledge there are countless frivolous and fraudulent harrassment and discrimination claims made all the time.
I'll share a quick story from the bleeding edge. I was an exec with a Fortune 1000 telecom in Manhattan during the dotcom boom (1995-2002). There were hundreds of telecoms and ISPs operating during that time and everybody knew everybody because folks were going from one company to the next in order to staff up quickly. Companies had sprung up overnight and SOPs and other operational procedures were developed on the fly. I came in at the end of this tale, as I had oversight responsibilty of the review and modifications of SOPs as a result.
A serial scammer had targeted companies in the sector. She'd come in for job interviews and would leave claiming to have been sexually harrassed during the interview process. Settlements were made in at least (6) companies that were identified - there may have been more. Settlements were made in the range of $40k to $125k. This was all discovered one night when a group of sales managers, friends from various former companies had gotten together for a brew after work. The subject of (and I paraphrase)..."did you hear what happened to Joe over at company ABC"? That immediately led to the discovery of the common theme. The discussion trickled up the executive chain, the scam got pieced together and the authorities were alerted. She'd stung the companies that could be accounted for, to the tune of approx. $350k+!
It's outrageous and distructive when frivolous and fraudulent cases are brought for profit, or worse, to exact revenge on a company or an individual's reputation and career. They also do a gross disservice to valid claims of abuse.