As workers, we need to know our rights in the workplace. We need to know what we are entitled to. Are we given the right dues for our rendered work? Are we entitled to paid leaves or overtime pay? Are we working in a safe environment? These are only but a few questions to ask yourself as a worker.
But why do we need to know these rights? For equality and fairness. These rights allow us and everybody else to have equal opportunities and experiences in the workplace. Without it, there would be utter chaos and disorder. Everybody’s wages would be unfair. We would be working in unsafe conditions. There would be discrimination in the workplace. And things like sexual harassment would become the norm. These are things that we do not want and have no place in today’s age.
This is why we need to know our rights as workers. But everybody has a different situation over another. So to better know and understand your rights, you need to do the following.
Form or Join a Union
A union is a coalition of workers that help each other get the things they want and need from their employers. Most companies and organizations already have a union. You only need to join and listen to the discussions. If you have questions or suggestions, you can raise them during the next meeting.
This is also a great opportunity to learn more about the company or organization that you are working for. What are the owners like? Have there been incidents of mistreatment or unfairness in the past? How and were they resolved? Every bit of information you get can help you better understand your place in the company and your rights.
If a union is not present, you can always band together with your fellow coworkers and form one yourselves. Let your union be known to management. Give them a list of your demands and discuss civilly regarding the subject. If all goes well, your demands will be met. If not, you could at least push for a compromise where both you and your employers are happy with a decision.
Ask the Help of a Lawyer
When things get too heated or too confusing, you need help from an independent third party. This where your lawyer comes in.
Your lawyer will help you understand the rights you are entitled to and how you can fight for them or ask for more. They will help build your case against management or whoever else is there. The good thing is, labor lawyers have experiences in different fields. You can find something quite unique like a truck labor lawyer in Washington.
No matter what your field or industry is, there is a labor lawyer that can help you. You only need to relay all the information that you have and the problems you want to address. After a while, your lawyer will be on top of things and help you get what you want.
Everybody has rights – and workers are no exception. We need to know and understand our rights to avoid ill-treatment and unfairness. It is either with the help of a union or a lawyer can we know and fight for our rights.
