Employment Laws That Every Employee Should Know

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As a worker, you’re entitled to specific rights. Unfortunately, in some cases, employers work against their employees. Not all workers understand when this is happening. By learning about your worker’s rights, you can better protect yourself. The following laws are some of the most important for you to understand.

Whistleblowers

Speaking out against unlawful practices might feel terrifying. However, whistleblower laws give you some recourse. These prevent employers from retaliating against employees who sound the alarm. Don’t let things slide. If you’ve seen something questionable, let the authorities know. Even if your employer tries to retaliate, you’ll be safe. In fact, you might even have a few options. People who’ve been wrongfully terminated could be reinstated at their job. Or, they might qualify for back pay at twice the rate of their usual pay. Additionally, employers found in violation will be responsible for their employee’s legal fees.

Wage and Hours

Did you know, the most common type of theft is wage theft? You’d be surprised how often employers try to underpay their employees. These violations can also include things like unauthorized pay deductions. Have you ever had an employer try to take money out of your check unfairly? If so, there’s a good chance they’ve broken some of these laws. No matter what, people deserve to be paid for all the work they do. If they aren’t, they should consider consulting with an L&I attorney. These attorneys may help you rectify the situation. Plus, they’ve even been able to help employees get back what they were owed.

OSHA Violations

Workplace safety should always be a top priority, regardless of occupation. From time to time, businesses try to skirt around the rules. OSHA guidelines are there for a reason. If you’ve been pressured to work outside of them, you don’t have to comply. Violating OSHA regulations can be a serious offense. An experienced attorney can look into matters for you if you’re not sure. That way, you won’t have to put up with unsafe working conditions.

Fired After an Injury

Filing a worker’s compensation claim shouldn’t make you feel nervous. Whenever you’ve been injured on the job, there are a lot of protections to keep you safe. Some employers might try to take action against you. But, if you’ve filed a claim with the worker’s comp, they aren’t allowed to do that. Have you had your hours docked after filing a claim? If so, that’d be a violation of the law. Being fired would also be a violation. Don’t worry about whether you’ll keep your job. Worker’s compensation claims are meant to protect you.

Wrongful Termination

A lot of states abide by at-will employment laws. Typically, that means that an employer can terminate an employee at any time. Still, in a lot of cases, they can’t carry that out in practice. If you’ve been fired after filing a dispute against time theft, you won’t have to worry. Wrongful termination can result for a variety of reasons. If you’ve been terminated, you might want to consult with a legal expert. Only they’ll be able to tell you whether it was legal or not.

Family Medical Leave Act

FMLA laws specify how people can step away from their work without repercussions. When someone gets sick, they might need a family member to take care of them. Using the FMLA act lets workers take time off without accruing any absences. These requests must be submitted to their employer, along with proper documentation. Having a baby is one example of when you might use FMLA. According to the law, you are allowed to spend time at home with your newborn. If an employer discriminates against you for that, they’re in the wrong. Even denying a legitimate FMLA request could be against the law. If you’ve got a proper medical certification, they can’t tell you no.

Essential Employment Laws Everyone Should Know

Understanding your rights as an employee is vital. Otherwise, you might be taken advantage of, and you’ll never know. By learning about your rights, you’ll feel confident whenever you encounter unlawful behavior. You might not own the business, but you’ve still got rights.