Common Employer Arguments Against Retaliation:
1. No Protected Activity
2. No Adverse Action
3. Protected Activity Wasn’t the Reason (Legitimate Business Reason)
4. They Didn’t Know (Cat’s Paw)

These are my opinions, and I am NOT AN ATTORNEY. Do your own research. To get you started, I've included lots of links to ATTORNEYS' OPINIONS on the subject below.

LINKS & RESOURCES
EmploymentLawHelp.org has a TON of great resources for workers who are experiencing discrimination & retaliation. Here's their Main Discrimination Page: https://www.employmentlawhelp.org/ind...

EmploymentLawHelp.org on Protections for Workers Who Report Discrimination:
https://www.employmentlawhelp.org/dis...

EmploymentLawHelp.org Sample Complaint Letters:
Disability: https://www.employmentlawhelp.org/dis...
Race: https://www.employmentlawhelp.org/dis...
Age: https://www.employmentlawhelp.org/dis...
FMLA: https://www.employmentlawhelp.org/dis...
Gender: https://www.employmentlawhelp.org/dis...
National Origin: https://www.employmentlawhelp.org/dis...
Pregnancy: https://www.employmentlawhelp.org/dis...
Religion: https://www.employmentlawhelp.org/dis...
Retaliation: https://www.employmentlawhelp.org/dis...

ARGUMENTS 1 & 2: What Are Protected Activities & Adverse Actions

US Dept of Labor:
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/oasam/ce...

Legal Aid at Work:
https://legalaidatwork.org/factsheet/...

ARGUMENT 3: Causation

American Bar Assn:
https://www.americanbar.org/groups/cr...

Kalijarvi, Chuzi, Newman & Fitch (Washington DC):
Part 1: Temporal Proximity as Proof of Causation
https://kcnfdc.com/blog/establishing...
Part 2: Lack of Temporal Proximity Other Ways to Establish Causation
https://kcnfdc.com/blog/establishing...

Phillips & Associates (New York):
https://www.newyorkcitydiscrimination...

Spitz Law Firm (Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio):
https://www.calltherightattorney.com/...

ARGUMENT 4: Cat’s Paw Theory

Beyond the Fable:
https://www.hbblaw.com/wpcontent/upl...

Selected Article by Attorneys:

Bantle & Levy (New York)
https://www.civilrightsfirm.com/thec...
NOTE: This one includes several excellent CASE LAW REFERENCES

Baker & Donelson (Nationwide)
https://www.bakerdonelson.com/Employe...

Johnson & Bell (Illinois)
https://johnsonandbell.com/thecatsp...

Ramey & Flock (Texas)
https://rameyflock.com/employmentlaw...

Spiggle Law (Virginia)
https://spigglelaw.com/provingdiscri...

Cole, Scott & Kissane (Florida):
https://www.csklegal.com/newsroom/pub...

Scott Law Team (Florida):
https://www.floridalaborlawyer.com/th...

OgletreeDeakins (Nationwide):
https://ogletree.com/insightsresourc...
NOTE: This one applies Cat’s Paw to Discrimination by coWorkers instead of only supervision

A Case Where Cat’s Paw Didn’t Work: https://www.hiringtofiring.law/2021/0...

Cat’s Paw Theory in FMLA Cases: https://www.reminger.com/report679