Mia
Employees have workplace rights protected by the law that are mostly addressed by the employer. Depending on your job position, your rights, privileges, and responsibilities change. An employee and a worker have slightly varying rights and responsibilities. In this piece, we will be exploring your rights at the workplace so you know what you are legally entitled to, affording to the law.
Joining a Union
The law gives you the liberty to join an association or a union that can represent the interests of the employees and could negotiate for better working conditions, increase in wages, and things that are in the worker’s best interest. According to law, unions can organize meetings, devise an action plan, distribute union literature, communicate with other workers, and invite them to join for a collective benefit. The employer should have no issue with these activities and has no obligation to stop or prevent employees from being involved in union-related activities.
Workplace Safety
It is the responsibility of the employer to provide the necessary safety equipment and ensure the workplace is safe for the workers. The law permits an employee to ensure their health and safety is never compromised. Furthermore, never engage in a task until you have the right gear or equipment to execute the task. Performing jobs without adequate protective gear mean you are risking your safety. If any accident occurs during this situation, you might not be able to file for worker’s compensation, contact your employer, or the insurance company to claim compensation for the loss.
Preventing Discrimination
Discrimination based on skin tone, religion, country, sex, and political opinions is common. Discrimination at the workplace is completely prohibited, especially when around a qualified co-worker with a disability. Employers must also never discriminate against workers on the aspects mentioned above.
Equality in Compensation
Qualified workers doing the same task should be paid equally. This equality of wages is not only applicable to the base salary, but also to overtime, bonuses, and any other form of compensation. Workers can also file for compensation in case they suffer an injury at the workplace.
In case there is a severe injury that resulted in permanent disability, the worker might get compensation throughout their life, but for injuries leading to temporary disability, there will be a specified time to receive workers’ compensation. It is crucial to know how long worker’s compensation lasts so you can secure the best possible options after a full recovery. For some, it becomes extremely difficult to file for workers’ compensation due to a lack of understanding of legal terminology and processes. In situations like these, consider hiring a lawyer who specializes in dealing with personal and workplace injury lawsuits.
Harassment At Work
According to the law, any form of harassment either by the employee or the employer is completely prohibited at the workplace. Harassment based on age, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, and sexual orientation is strictly prohibited. There are several anti-harassment laws that workplaces follow. Still, it is the responsibility of the employer to create a positive work environment where everyone is respected and cared for irrespective of their ethnicity, race, nationality, etc.
Sick Leave
It is the right of the employee to avail medical leave while their job position stays secure until they rejoin. The regulations even permit the employer to take leave when taking care of a close family member suffering from a medical condition. Depending on the laws of your country, the amount of paid medical leave can range from a few weeks to even more than 6 months when facing a chronic illness. Some employers might even offer additional perks and packages according to their company’s benefits policy.
Workplace Retaliation
The law obligates employers to ensure workers that they will not be facing any wrongful termination if they report a wrongful action or activity. Employees providing this type of information are known as whistle-blowers and report the discrepancies to management or even the business owner.
Right to Protest
Similar to joining a union, taking part in a protest cannot be restricted by the employer. The strikes can be done to serve the best interests of employees and workers. However, a few countries don’t provide workers or employees the right to protest and may even register it as an offense.
Putting in some extra legwork will help you understand your rights in a better manner and deal with situations that may arise. Besides reviewing the above-mentioned rights, consult the law regulatory authorities and review their latest guide to know how well you are protected by the law.
