You must be excited to start applying for a job and be a part of the workforce. After all those years of education, you’ll finally start applying everything you’ve learned in school to actual problems that you may encounter while working.

But before you get too excited to work, you must first know your rights as an employee working for a company that’s your employer. Different states have different labor laws, but they all have something in common. 

Here are the essential things you should know about labor laws and your rights as an employee:

• Right to not be discriminated against

All states require employers to not discriminate against their employees based on their religious beliefs, age, gender, race, disability, or pregnancy. This means that an employee cannot use these as reasons why you cannot work for them.

In other states, they have furthered this law by including your gender identity, sexual preference, civil status, and other characteristics that make you unique. You can check your state labor law guide to see what other characteristics are included and cannot be used to discriminate against you.

Therefore, if you think that you’ve been discriminated against by your previous or present employer, then you can file a complaint against the company. However, you’ll need solid and valid proof and not just a feeling.

• Right to safe working conditions

Employers are required to inform their employees of any possible harmful electronics, machines, and chemicals that they may encounter in the workplace. They’re also required to give you training on how to properly handle these harmful and dangerous elements in the working environment.

Apart from the training, you must also be given protective gear and other things that can protect you from possible harm in the case of an accident.

In cases when an employee gets into an accident in the workplace due to the employers’ inability to inform him of the dangers in the workplace, or his inability to provide reasonable resources to protect the employee, the employee can sue the employer.

• Right to a fair wage

There are minimum wage requirements for employers to comply with. The requirements depend on the state that you live in. As employees grow with the company, their wages must grow too.

Although increasing wages may not appear to be a financially sound decision for the business as it’ll increase business expenses, it may actually mean the opposite.

Studies conducted in the past have shown that when employers pay their employees a just wage for the work that they do, they become more productive in their work. They’re also motivated to be better and create a good working environment in the workplace. 

Apart from your fair pay, you should also get overtime pay for additional hours you work on top of your 40 hours per week working hours. 

• Right to take a leave from work

Many employees are often burnt out with their work due to the fact that they’re not allowed by their employers to take personal leaves. Taking a personal leave is actually your right according to labor law.

These personal leaves can be used to take care of personal matters and family emergencies. You can also take leave to take care of sick family members. After childbirth, you may also take parental leave or maternity leave to recuperate and take care of your baby.

Some companies even allow their employees to take leave from work to take care of their mental health. This is when employers observe that stress accumulated from work can affect a person’s mental health and negatively impact his or her productivity.

• The right to refuse work

Employees reserve the right to refuse to work when they deem the work and the work environment to be dangerous for them. Employers also have guidelines about how to respond when an employee refuses to work. The employees who refuse work should also be protected from negative actions of the employer as a form of retribution, like hindering his or her well-deserved promotion.

If an employee refuses a job and the employer retaliates as a result, the employee can file a complaint in the proper office.

Conclusion 

It can be difficult to look for a job, especially if you’re new to the workforce. The competition will probably be tough, and it may be discouraging at times. However, this shouldn’t stop you from finding a company or employer who sees your worth and what you can offer to the company. 

And when you get your dream job, don’t forget your rights, and demand them from your employer.