We all know that we have rights. We have basic human rights, of course, but we also have rights that are applicable in certain contexts. For example, when you enter the workforce as an employee, you have certain rights.

Unfortunately, many employees aren’t aware of their rights, which means that they often get taken advantage of. This is why we’ve put together a list of four important rights that employees should be aware of, so keep reading to learn more.

You have the right to fair and equal treatment

Employees have the right to respect as well as fair and equal treatment. This doesn’t mean that your employers need to be friends with you or to go out of their way to make your life easy – your relationship should still be professional – but it does mean that they can’t abuse you in any way.

It also means that employers cannot discriminate against you based on things like race, gender, sexuality, religion, age, or more. And of course, they cannot fire you unless they have a valid reason to do so. If you suspect that you are not being treated properly at work, you should get in touch with an employment lawyer like HKM to see how they can help you.

You have the right to legal payment

While your payment will depend on various factors such as what job you are doing, how well you are qualified, and how many hours you work, you still have the right to earn the minimum wage.

Legally, an employer cannot pay an employee less than the minimum wage. However, this wage can differ from place to place. If you want to learn more about how different countries decide on a minimum wage, this post may be helpful.

There are laws about how much you can work

There are laws about how much an employee is allowed to work, so you need to be aware of these before you agree to a job. Once again, these rules can differ based on various factors.

Some jobs, for example medical ones, may allow employees to work extra hours. But for most jobs, you are not allowed to work more than a set number of hours. You should also be aware of when you are allowed to request overtime payment. Aside from your normal working hours, you are also legally entitled to a certain amount of leave each year. This includes annual leave which you can use for things like holidays, and also other types of leave like study leave and sick leave.

You have the right to safety

Finally, employees have the right to safety in the workplace. This can mean many things. For most employees, it simply means being able to work in a safe and clean environment and to be protected from harassment.

However, employees in certain lines of work may require additional safety measures such as proper safety gear and safety training. Workplace safety is important, and while your employer can’t guarantee that you will be safe at work, they should be doing everything they can to ensure your safety.