As a worker, you must know your rights. Knowing the things that you are entitled to enables you to access them easily. By staying informed, you’ll be empowered to boldly demand lawful conditions and treatment so that you can enjoy a perfect work-life balance.
To avoid victimization, you must realize that your rights are obligations that your employers must fulfill. When you understand your rights, you can fight for them and avoid workplace exploitation and harassment in any form. Keep reading to learn about the major employee rights that guarantee you fairness, protection, and dignity at work.
Right to a Safe Work Environment
Every organization or company has workplace policies that align with the rights of its workers. With respect to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, employers must ensure that offices or workplaces do not put workers at risk of any danger. Workplaces must be properly lit and kept neat with sufficient air circulation.
For jobs that require people to operate machinery, all equipment should be in perfect shape. Employers must also train operators before assigning tasks to them. Additionally, as a protective measure, job sites must have multiple exits to improve workers’ chances of survival in case of emergencies.
Right to Health and Safety Protection
Beyond the general condition of the environment, employers must offer protection against health-related risks that may affect staff during the course of the job. For example, you may experience back strain due to long sitting hours in the office environment. It’s the responsibility of your employers to provide ergonomic office chairs.
However, the level of protection depends on the nature of the job. That’s why this particular right is vital to industrial workers who face high-risk exposure to chemicals and dangerous mineral substances like asbestos. If employers fail to take protective measures, affected staff can take legal action to seek asbestos claims payouts for medical costs, lost wages, and more.
Right to Fair Compensation
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes your rights as a worker to receive fair pay that matches the service you render. To enforce this, the law stipulates the standard amount for wages and working hours of those in the private and public sectors. It also applies to the staff of businesses that partake in interstate commerce and certain domestic workers.
As a worker, you have the right to earn not less than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 hourly. If you work in a state that sets its own rate, you are entitled to the higher rate. In addition, if you work for more than 40 hours in a week, your overtime pay must be 1.5 times higher than your regular rate.
Right to Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination
According to the U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), it’s illegal for employers to discriminate against their employees. This law is inclusive of past and present employees, and covers immigrants also. Hence, no employer should treat you unjustly or exclude you from hiring, promotion, or training.
If your employer favors others over you because of your race, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics, report to the EEOC. You can call, send an email, or visit their office to file a charge. The same applies to cases of wrongful termination, job assignments, and retaliation.
Endnote
Awareness of your rights helps you balance your expectations and gives you the courage to fight for your entitlements. The law mandates that your employer provide a safe working environment and ensure the presence of protective measures to prevent you from health risks. Employers must also provide equitable pay and equal access to opportunity without discrimination.