Lawsuit alert: Beware disciplining for infractions of seldom-enforced rules.

Sometimes, supervisors get frustrated with workers they consider trouble makers because they complain all the time. Those bosses need to think twice before they retaliate by strictly enforcing work rules--especially if they have often ignored those rules in the past.

Throwing the book at an employee who has filed a complaint, claimed discrimination or otherwise caused perceived problems can backfire quickly.

That's especially true if the employee winds up being demoted, discharged or...