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A Close Look At Your Legal Rights (And Responsibilities) As An Employee
It is an exciting time in your life whenever you get a new job. So much so that we often tend to overlook important details. As an employee, you have many rights that your employer is legally required to provide. However, there are responsibilities that you are obliged to perform in order to receive those rights and to be able to keep your job.
Another important factor to keep in mind is that different countries and states take on different laws, and the same applies to the specific job you are taking as well. This is why it’s so important for you to pay attention to the details and make sure that you are getting everything you are entitled to at your workplace. Here’s a close look at your legal rights and responsibilities as an employee.
Employee Rights
Safe workplace
Any human being’s first right to life is to be safe wherever they are. It is possible to eliminate 100% of the danger around you. But, in the workplace, it is your employer’s responsibility to ensure that the workplace is a safe environment. Safety comes in many forms and ways, and your employer has to ensure that you’re safe in every possible way. They have to ensure that the workplace is free from any harmful toxins, whether gases or liquids.
They have to immediately eliminate and isolate practices proven to release harmful toxins. Your employer has to immediately stop tasks that have been proven to affect your health negatively in any way, shape, or form. They are required to provide you with safety tools or equipment required to keep you safe in the workplace.
No Harassment or Bullying
Safety does not only mean health and well-being. Your employer is obliged to ensure that you’re emotionally protected against all types of harassment or bullying in the workplace.
Your employer must implement action against anyone who attempts any type of harassment. Your employer has to provide you with an environment where you feel safe to stand up to anyone who attempts to harm you. They must also provide you with a safe space where you can discuss with them any type of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse from any of your colleagues or superiors. Your employer is legally required to help you report abuse and provide you with sufficient support to speak up and report your incident if you want to do so.
Health and Social Security
Part of ensuring your safety and well-being is providing you with insurance. Health and social insurance protect you and ensure that you have access to healthcare and money in case of emergencies. In some cases, your insurance provider and employer are required to even take care of any health issues you face, even if they are not work-related. If you get injured on-site, your employer is legally required to financially compensate you.
You can read more online about the steps you need to follow if your employer strips away your right for compensation. Although there are many different insurance plans, your employer is only required to provide you with one. You’re not entitled to choose the health insurance provider that your employer provides for you.
Whistleblower Rights
As an employee, you’re legally covered by the government if you wish to report any crimes occurring at your place of work. The state has an obligation to provide you with support and protection and to allow you to present evidence proving there has been a violation of law or abuse of authority.
If there are life-threatening practices that your employer is neglecting, you have the right to step forward to the authorities. This is especially true if you’ve previously talked to them about the problem and they have shown no interest in changing their ways.
Fair Wages
You’re entitled to get paid a fair amount of money for the work you’re providing. Your employer has no right to provide you with a lower wage by taking advantage of your desperation for the job. Offering a lower wage to desperate people is considered an abuse of authority and could be punishable by the law.
Employee Responsibilities
Care For Their Health and Security
Your health and well-being are not only your employer’s job. You have to take care of yourself at all times, especially when you’re in your place of work. You have to follow all safety protocols provided by your employer, and wear the appropriately provided safety equipment. Your employer is entitled to take disciplinary action against you if you do not follow their safety protocol; which could result in you being let go from the job.
Care For the Health and Security of Others
Your employer does not only care about your health and well-being. Employers should care for all their employees and ensure their employees’ safety and security. Similarly, you should also care for your coworkers and make sure your actions don’t cause them harm. Even if you are in a position of authority, you must always respect and treat your coworkers well. Your coworkers, customers, and bosses must always feel safe around you at all times. If you threaten any of the other employees’ safety or health, your employer has a right to take disciplinary action against you.
Cooperate With Their Coworkers and Superiors
In most jobs, you have to be a team player, which requires you to cooperate with all your coworkers and superiors. You must always consider your coworkers’ comfort and understand the workplace rules concerning social relations. Cooperation is key to success when it comes to working. Not doing so could result in you being let go by your employer.
Protect Workplace Assets and Tools
Your workplace is not your home. Any assets or tools provided by your employer are borrowed by you and must be returned unless otherwise indicated. Therefore, you are not allowed to misuse anything provided to you by your employer or make excessive use of the services provided by them.
As a member of the workforce, you’re entitled to receive rights and obligations to perform your responsibilities. Failing to do your job correctly gives your employer the power to fire you and strip you of your rights. You must always ensure you understand and protect your rights, and report any incidents when your employer denies you your rights.
