Knowing your rights is always important and that’s no less true in the workplace. That said, it can be difficult to know what your rights are when you’re at work. When you take the time to learn your rights you can put yourself first and make sure that your needs are taken care of. It’s never too late to learn your rights as an employee.
Protection from Discrimination
One important element of workers’ rights is that you deserve to be protected from discrimination. There are many protected statuses that you should be aware of including race, ethnicity, gender, and disability. These protections are important because they ensure that your employer cannot discriminate against you for any of these reasons. If you feel that you are being discriminated against in the workplace you must get the help you need. The HR department in your company should be able to help you to deal with issues related to discrimination so don’t be afraid to reach out if you need help.
Worker’s Compensation
Businesses are legally required to provide workers’ compensation for their employees. This is especially important in industries that rely on physical labor. If you are injured on the job your work should provide you with workers’ compensation so that your insurance and care needs are taken care of. If you find that your employer is not providing you with workers’ compensation, then your rights are not being met. You can always check with HR at any point to see what workers compensation you’re entitled to in the case of an accident at work. The more you know about your workers’ comp needs, the better it will be for you if something does occur.
Health and Safety
You have the right to your health and safety when you’re in the workplace. These rights are protected through OSHA which provides guidelines to employers for the health and safety of their employees. These regulations include things ranging from the kinds of safety labels that should be on hazardous materials to safety equipment that should be provided to employees and in between. Is important to know that you’re safe at work and that your employer is following all required regulations for your safety.
The more you know about your rights as an employee, the better you will be able to know when those rights aren’t being met. Take time to learn about your employee rights so you can protect yourself.
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