Employers' Obligations and Employees' Rights

Employers are obligated to ensure that every one of their employees has basic employment rights. Any person that is planning on setting up their own business or employing people need to learn more about their responsibilities and rights. Here are some of the main obligations of every employer:

• To give annual leave from work,
• To pay employees at least the statutory minimum wage rates,
• To always give notice prior to termination of employment,
• To keep records of the entitlements of their employees,
• To provide rest periods and breaks during working hours,
• To provide employees with a written statement of pay,
• To give employees a written statement of the terms and conditions of employment,
• To follow the maximum working week requirements.

On the other hand, all employees have some basic rights in the workplace. Some of the most notable rights include freedom from discrimination, the right to fair compensation, and the right to privacy. It’s also important to mention that a job applicant has rights even before becoming an employee. These rights include freedom from discrimination based on religion, gender, race, age, and national origin during the hiring process.

One of the most important rights that employees have is the right to privacy in the workplace. This applies to the personal belongings of an employee, which includes not only the things that they bring to the workplace, but their private mail as well. In some cases, an employee will have a right to privacy in their phone conversations, but this is rarely the case when it comes to Internet usage and e-mail messages. This is because the employees are using the computer system provided by the employer.

The right to a safe workplace is also extremely important. Employers are obligated to provide a safe workplace according to both federal and state laws. In the event that any dangerous conditions are present, the employees have the option to report the violation to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration or their employer.

If the conditions are especially dangerous, employees can even refuse to work. Apart from making sure that the workplace is safe, employers are also obligated to give training and instructions to employees regarding safety and health in the workplace. They are also required to give the workers all necessary equipment and protective clothing needed for the job at no cost to employees.On top of that, the employer is required to appoint a Safety Officer in the workplace.

It’s important to know that you’re entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if you get injured in the workplace. After all, if an employee gets injured, it’s most likely because there were safety hazards in the workplace. In the event that you suffer any injuries while on the job, you need to seek the help from a workers compensation lawyer.

In order for there to be a fair relationship between the employer and the worker, the employee has to have the right to be free from retaliation after filing a complaint or claim against the employer. Often referred to as the whistleblower rights, they help protect employees after filing a complaint to a federal agency about a certain violation. In the event that the employee has been retaliated against, he or she must file a complaint to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Other important employee rights are the right to fair wages for the work performed and the freedom from harassment and discrimination of all types. From the moment they start working, employees have public holiday entitlements, as well as annual leave. Every year, workers get 4 weeks paid annual leave. According to personal requirements, employers can decide on the timing of annual leave. Employees have the option of requesting pay for annual leave in advance.