Your Workplace Rights: Tips for Workers in 2020
When you’re working hard to earn a living and raise a family, you need to be on top form if you’re to make the career progressions you wish to, in order to be successful in your career. Nonetheless, while you also concentrate hard on your work, you should also be aware of the rights that the country and your state bestow you with when you’re working within an organization that you trust. Sometimes, knowing these rights can be incredibly useful.
Redundancy (Lay-Offs)
In the U.K. “redundancy” refers to “no longer employed because there is no more work available” in the U.S. this is often referred to as a “Layoff”. People are made redundant for a variety of reasons. Perhaps your company is shrinking, and cannot afford to maintain your role within the organization. You may be seeing your company automate, and leave you out of a job. Or, you may be being unfairly sacked for an offense that you’re not responsible for. Whatever the reason, it’s important to remain abreast of redundancy packages, and what you can expect from your employer if they tell you they need or want to let you go. Normally, this will mean you’re due a payment package and support for a period of time in order to be able to find a new job – an adequate period of transition to avoid worst-case debt-building scenarios. If you are laid off through no fault of your own you will usually be eligible to collect under your state’s unemployment insurance.
Workplace Equality
While society has made many positive steps in recent years to protect minorities and to ensure that there’s equality in the outcome and treatment in many sectors of public life, there still may be a gap between the treatment of minorities and women in the workplace. This ranges from simple acts of passive aggression, through to your being ignored for promotion, and not invited on work trips and other opportunities that might help your career. Now, it’s unwise to face up to your employer directly on every issue of discrimination you may feel, but if you sense a grievous injustice you may find it necessary to meet with a professional who specializes in employment law. WHLaw offers the following examples of possible unlawful activity by employers:
- -plant and factory workers who must appear 15 minutes early pre-shift and are not paid for set up time
- -managers in any industry who do not manage any people
- -workers paid a day rate no matter how many hours they work
- -healthcare workers who are paid hourly, but not paid time and a half for overtime
- -restaurant workers who are paid less than minimum wage without a tip credit
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Hours and Pay
As a worker in the US, you’re guaranteed a protected wage and a protected number of hours you’re expected to be paid. If you’re not being paid your full wage, and you’re being asked to work over the quota of hours, you may well be being exploited. Often, this means that the contract that you signed with your company is not being honored, and this opens your company up to legal action from yourself as a worker. Keep this in mind when you experience such cases of exploitation and workplace insecurity.
Health and Sickness
Most contractual agreements between staff and employers account for sick days. You should be paid on these days off – because they can affect anyone, at any given time. Not only should this cover physical health, like coming down with the flu – but also mental health, if you’re in a period of pain and hardship in your life. Be aware of this, and protect your right to payment when sick, to remain on top of your workplace rights in 2020.
These tips are designed to help you maintain your dignity and your rights in the world of work – wherever you toil, and whenever issues arise.
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