Susan Nelson
1 day ago3 min read
What Is an Adverse Employment Action—and Why It Matters for Employers
by Susan Nelson | Feb 2026 An adverse employment action is any decision an employer makes that negatively impacts an employee’s job in a meaningful way. This includes changes to pay, role, schedule, responsibilities, growth opportunities, or overall working conditions. At its core, the concept is about harm —whether an employment decision puts an employee at a disadvantage because of who they are or because they exercised a protected right. Understanding what qualifies as a


















