6 Reasons to Know Your Rights as an Employee

Know your rights as an employee. Regardless of what industry you work in, there are things that you may love or hate about your job. However, day after day, if the bad outweighs the good you may wish you could just quit.

Many people are dissatisfied with their work environment and are looking for ways to become entrepreneurs and avoid workplace drama. However, sometimes that drama is actually illegal and so here are six employee rights to be aware of.

Accidents

Regardless of your industry, workplaces can be more hazardous than homes. Of course, when you think of accidents at work, many think of construction, roofing, or police officers. However, accidents happen in the plushest offices where safety should be as important as a construction site.

Employees may suffer from an injury from falling over unsecured computer cords or need wrist surgery because the firm refused to purchase ergonomic equipment. But they don’t realize that these types of things can qualify for a worker’s compensation claim, so they don’t file. Labor & Industry attornies specialize in this type of case. So, hiring an L&I attorney could save them years of needless pain and agony (both physical and financial).

Privacy

Regardless of the industry or location, employees have the right to store their personal belongings in a safe place, free from theft or intrusion. That includes handbags, briefcases, and electronic devices. When an employee doesn’t work at a desk, jobs should provide a storage locker or other safe place for employees’ personal belongings.

Illnesses

Calling out sick shouldn’t make you sick. You shouldn’t feel nervous about using sick leave when your kids are sick. You shouldn’t have to lie or make anything sound more severe than necessary to not hear the guilt from your job for doing so. Calling out sick shouldn’t cause employees to be penalized or make them ineligible for raises or promotions.

Yet, all the above happens every day. Many companies tell you how it is accrued and will give you a breakdown of how much you have. If you work for a company that offers paid sick leave, take it when you are sick. You don’t even have to explain what is wrong, just that you are sick.

However, many at-will companies do not offer sick leave. That means that they may accept you are calling out sick and do nothing. Alternately, they have the right to fire you for calling out sick. You need to know what policy your company has.

Bullying

There is bound to be a bully in almost every environment that you enter. However, you have the right to go to work and not feel threatened or harassed by a bully. Office bullying stifles productivity and leaves the company open to a lot of mistakes. If you are bullied and have discussed it with your supervisor, go up the chain of command to the president if necessary. If the bullying continues and you have memorialized it in writing, there are U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) offices who will be happy to listen to your complaint.

Disability

You have the right to avoid answering questions online about any disability and every right to ask for accommodations once hired. Likewise, employers cannot discriminate because of sex, nationality, or anything else that makes you unique. The United States Department of Labor protects human rights where appropriate, and you are protected.

Overtime

According to most states’ employee rights guidelines, you should get paid time and a half if you work more than 40 hours per week. Also, if you cannot work overtime and your job is not essential, you cannot be penalized when you are not available to work overtime.

More than ever, more people are enjoying the flexibility of entrepreneurship. However, for those who work for companies, knowing your rights as employees is essential.

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