If you file a successful claim, you might be able to recover certain damages from your employer. These damages are known as remedies.
While the exact remedies will depend on your specific situation, the following are the most common:
Back Pay
The court might order the employer to pay you back pay. This is the amount you would have earned had it not been for your employer's discriminatory actions. For example, if your employer fired you as a form of workplace discrimination, you might be able to recover the wages you would have earned from the date of termination up to the date the court read the verdict.
Reinstatement
The court might also order your employer to reinstate you. However, it is important to note that most states follow the at-will employment principle. This principle allows employers to hire and fire employers at will. Therefore, the court will explore other options if reinstatement is impossible.
Front Pay
The employer might be required to pay you front pay. This pay covers your losses from the day the court entered the judgment against your employer to the day you get a new job. Let's say you earned a fixed salary of $5000 a month before getting fired; your front pay might be equivalent to $5,000 a month until you find another job.
Keep in mind that front pay does not last forever. Therefore, it is your duty to seek new employment as soon as possible.
Compensatory Damages
You may also be able to recover compensatory damages if you can prove certain elements of your case. For example, if the workplace discrimination incident caused you extreme stress, anxiety, or depression, and you can prove it, you may recover compensatory damages. These damages do not usually have anything to do with financial losses (because the front and back pay already covers that).
Punitive Damages
The judge or jury might award you punitive damages if they determine that the employer was extremely reckless in their behavior. Keep in mind that punitive damages are not guaranteed; they solely depend on the court's judgment. These damages are meant to punish the defendant for their gross negligence or recklessness and warn others in similar positions against such behavior.