(throwaway account)
My old employer fired me a few weeks ago illegally. I filed a complaint with the NLRB and I have another meeting with the representative handling my charge soon.
I know I'm protected from them (my old employers) trying to counter-sue or anything, but I also know this means I can mostly likely never work in this industry again. (“Oh, were they a good employee?” “Yeah, if you don't mind getting SUED afterward.”)
I'm scared and feel like I'm making a mistake. Is this how they manipulate us into feeling? Like we're bad people for holding them accountable for their bad and illegal decisions?
I'm so worried my old coworkers will start harassing me. I don't want to block them in case they do and I can just send that along to my charge representative, but I'm so anxious about it all. Why is it so nerve-wracking, even though I know I'm the victim here?
EDIT: I'm not suing them, I literally just filed a charge with the NLRB. I don't necessarily want money, I just want them to not get away with this kind of thing. I'm not even the first one they've done it to, as I was told every rule in the handbook was there because they've had problems in the past. (They have a rule that employees are discouraged from discussing wages)