Whether you’re an employee or a business owner, you should be aware of these inalienable rights that apply to all workers. Sometimes, because of our excitement to land a job or our fear of losing our jobs, we tend to allow our bosses to get away with many things. Do you know that you have rights even before you get hired? For example, you cannot be discriminated against because of your age, race, religion, gender, and national origin? Employers must give equal opportunity to all applicants as long as they meet the minimum qualifications required for the job.
You can avoid going through mediation for employment if you are cognizant of your rights as an employee. What are these rights? How can these rights protect you?
Right to Fair Compensation
You should be compensated according to the set minimum wage, your qualifications, and the job that you are tasked to carry on. You have the right to overtime pay. Men and women should receive an equal amount of pay according to the jobs they are hired to do.
Right to Privacy
This makes it unlawful for employers to ask their employees to provide them with the passwords to their private accounts. It also prohibits employers from listening to and accessing their employees’ telephone conversations, emails, and text messages. This is prohibited even if the employees used their work phones. If the employees are provided with office smartphones, the employers cannot use the said devices to track down their employees after work hours.
Right to Freedom from Discrimination
Employees should feel safe in the work environment. The office should be free of discriminatory remarks from their coworkers and bosses. They should not be discriminated against because of their race, religion, ethnicity, and age. This right exists even during the hiring process.
Right to a Safe Workplace
The employers are responsible for ensuring that the workplaces are free from hazardous materials, toxic substances, and dangerous conditions. If you are working in a chemical laboratory or a construction site, the employers should provide you with personal protective equipment to ensure that you’re safe from accidents and exposure to substances.
Right to File a Complaint Against an Employer
These are also called whistleblower rights. Basically, you can file a lawsuit or a case against your employers without them retaliating against you because of it. What kind of retaliation can employers do? Some try to find probable causes to fire you. Others make a completely inane case that will put your careers in limbo.
There are also employers who will demote you or deny overtime work. Some squeeze everything out of your contract to deny you the chance to leave the company. They do this, especially when you receive a better offer from another organization.
Before you apply for any position in any organization, check the reputation of that company. Read about what past and current employees are saying about the company. Were they satisfied with their stay in the organization? Did the company help them grow their skills? Were they subjected to discrimination and harassment? These are the important points to consider before trying to get a job in any organization.
