Employees in any industry or workplace have lawful employment rights. It is important to know and understand your rights regarding work conditions and pay so you can determine if you are being treated fairly. As an employee, it is your right to feel safe in your work environment, be provided with the necessary equipment to get your work done, and receive all your entitlements. It is your responsibility to know what you are entitled to, avoid hurting others in the workplace, and know and meet what is expected of you. Read through this article to find out what you need to know about your employee rights.
Understanding Your Rights
As an employee, it is your duty to understand your rights and know the laws that protect you. Some employees who don’t know their rights may be subject to harassment, manipulation, and exploitation. Knowing your rights will benefit you from the protection the laws offer. If you have any questions regarding your rights as an employee, you must refer to your workplace’s Human Resources department or the Department of Labor office.
In Case of Violation
If you believe that a violation of your employee rights was made, it’s essential to take notes and keep records and proof of this violation. Appoint an expert on employment laws, or an attorney, to ensure that you are served justice. Additionally, you are entitled to discuss these violations with your supervisor without fearing penalization. Suppose you communicated a breach and have been discriminated against by someone at your workplace. As a result, documentation or proof of this will further strengthen your case in court.
Job Applicant Rights
Individuals in the workforce are granted rights even before they are employed. Job applicants are entitled to protection from age, race, gender, religion, or ethnic discrimination throughout the entire hiring process. If a violation of these rights has been made, the individual should seek justice and take legal measures.
Employee Rights
Employment laws are enforced to ensure that employees feel safe in their work environment and protect them from any potential injustices.
Discrimination
Any employer is prohibited from discriminating between employees based on religion, race, gender, or ethnicity. An employer is not allowed to fire, discipline, refuse training and promotion, demote, pay less, harass, or refuse to hire employees on these bases. They are not allowed to enforce policies that impact a certain group of people differently. Employers are required to pay men and women who perform the same work equally. Employees with disabilities are entitled to equal rights and reasonable accommodation to their disability.
Wrongful Termination
It is illegal for an employer to fire an employee for no good reason unless the employee is hired under an “at-will” contract. However, in that case, an employer can’t violate the employee’s contract, fire the employee for discriminatory reasons, or terminate them because they retaliated. An employee who spoke up or reported a certain violation, harassment, discrimination, illegal activities, or the inability to meet safety laws should not be fired for raising these issues.
Fair Wages
Wages vary from one area in the world to another. However, you must read up on the laws regarding wages in your city’s Department of Labor. In some areas in the world, you are entitled to be paid for overtime if you are a non-management employee in certain industries and earn less than a decided amount of salary. You should always receive the minimum wage you are entitled to, even if you are in training. However, your employer can pay you less in some places if you receive above a certain amount of tips. If you are pregnant, make sure to ask about the laws regarding paid and unpaid maternity leave in your area.
Safety
Your workplace must be free of any hazards and follow all health and safety laws and requirements. Individuals should always feel safe and that their privacy is not violated. They should not fear being harassed or discriminated against or be worried that they may get penalized if they voice their concerns regarding some issues.
All employees are entitled to rights and fair treatment regardless of their occupation. If an employee feels violated, there are many laws in place to ensure that they are served justice. However, many employees are unable to take advantage of this protection and may be unaware if they are being violated because they lack sufficient knowledge regarding their rights. Just like it’s an employer’s duty to remain righteous to all employees, it’s an employee’s responsibility to be educated on their rights.