Employee Rights: What You Need to Know

Many things can happen in the workplace. Some are positive, such as being offered a promotion or making friends out of colleagues. On other occasions, you might face situations that make you uncomfortable or fear to lose your job. While in some circumstances there might not be much you can do, it’s important to be aware of what your rights are as an employee.

Don’t let your boss or other senior staff members get away with illegal practices — here are some of the basics that you ought to know.

You Can Say No

The general attitude to getting by in the workplace is that you’re expected to say ‘yes’ to everything. It’s true that being an employee with a positive outlook who is a team player will be looked upon favorably. However, don’t make the mistake of thinking this means you have to carry out tasks that make you uncomfortable. While your job might challenge you from time to time, if you feel unsafe or insecure about doing something your boss has asked you to do, you have the right to say no.

Harassment

No one should be made to feel uncomfortable or upset in their place of work — not by their boss, and not by their colleagues, either. Harassment can come in differing forms: you might be receiving threats, or being constantly undermined and ridiculed. Or perhaps you feel as though someone at work is making inappropriate remarks to you of a sexual nature. If you feel as though you are being harassed, make a formal complaint to HR. If this procedure fails, you may have to seek legal action and take it further.

Training

You are entitled to receive adequate training for your job role. If you feel as though you need to learn more about your job, you have the right to ask your boss/manager to provide further learning programs for you. This might involve retaking previous training courses or using alternative learning methods.

Redundancy

There might come a time when the business you work for has to make some cut-backs. Unfortunately, this could result in you losing your job. If you are facing redundancy, or have recently been made redundant, the company you work for should give you a reasonable period of notice. You might also be entitled to some severance pay, although it is probably best to get some legal advice on redundancy to know fully what your entitlement is.

Discrimination

It is illegal for an employer to dismiss or treat certain employees differently due to their gender, race, sexual orientation, disability, or mental health. Naturally, some things may have to be altered to better suit a person’s circumstances, but these should always be discussed respectfully and agreed upon by both the employer and the employee. If you feel as though you are missing out on opportunities or targeted at work due to race, gender, etc., again, report it to HR and take it further if necessary.

If you’re unsure about a situation at work and what you can do, take the time to further research your employee rights for guidance.