Worker’s Rights for Every Employee

Most people will work a job at some point in their lives. Whether this job requires crafting the perfect cappuccino in Iowa, creating advertisements for a large firm in Indiana, or managing talent at a talent agency in Idaho, you will benefit from understanding how worker’s rights apply in your context. In the early years of the United States’ development, there was no guarantee for employees’ protection in the workplace. Today, the United States government has taken the responsibility of enforcing worker’s rights laws on a federal level. Regardless of your state of residency or your occupation, these laws protect you. Here are some reminders of a few of your employee rights and the specific laws that guarantee them.

Worker’s Rights Enforced by Federal Law

You have the right to a safe work environment. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 offers guidelines for worker’s safety. It protects employers from having to participate in high-risk work. You have the right to receive an appropriate minimum wage. The Fair Labor Standards Act was created to guarantee fair compensation for employees at all levels. Though the minimum wage varies from state to state, it serves as an important baseline for employee compensation. It also guarantees overtime pay to non-exempt employees.

Worker’s Rights and Family Leave

You may have the right to “family leave.” The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), placed in effect in 1993, offers 12 weeks of paid leave to employees who qualify. You must have been an employee at the organization for at least one year, and you must have worked at least 1,250 hours over the previous year. Importantly, FMLA only applies in companies that employ at least 50 employees. If your situation or company does not meet the requirements for FMLA, you will still receive important protections during your pregnancy as enforced by the by Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Understanding Unemployment Benefits 

You have the right to unemployment benefits. Though this may not feel like it falls into the category of “worker’s rights”, the U.S. unemployment system seeks to aid workers who are temporarily unemployed due to reasons outside of their control. This protection is in place to preserve economic stability and protect workers in the face of a situation such as layoff.

The Law is For You

Of course, there are many more worker’s rights that are not listed here. The list is long. We should be grateful to live in a country where employee rights are enforced and protected. The law exists to offer a protected structure in which citizens can thrive. Employee rights are a crucial part of that law structure. The Perry Piñón Law Firm is passionate about ensuring application of employee rights in the greater El Paso area.