Five Things Every Employee Should Know To Avoid Legal Problems

Rianne Hunter

October 10, 2013


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The workplace environment can be exciting but quite unpredictable, especially if employees are not aware of their individual rights. If there is ignorance among employees, then tensions can arise, ultimately leading to a large legal dispute if not resolved peacefully. Here are five things all company employees should know to avoid legal problems.

Your Right To Work

The first thing employees should they know is that their job is not a guarantee. Management can let anyone go at any time without reason or explanation. This is called a lay-off and is quite a common phenomenon. The only exception to this rule are employees who are hired on under the Union, an organization which protects an individual's right to work.

Understand Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is a sensitive issue in many corporations. Every employee should be informed as to what the meaning of sexual harassment is. Sexual harassment can include unwelcome advances, inappropriate jokes of an explicit nature, or exchanging a sexual favor for a certain job or task. It is the responsibility of the human resources department or management to outline examples of sexual harassment and the protocol for such cases.

Safety Regulations

Whether working in an office or warehouse, safety is always an important issue. Companies are asking for trouble if their employees have not been properly trained on how to operate machinery, how to lift heavy objects, or even use the photocopier correctly. Ideally, every company should have a safety specialist whose sole responsibility is to educate employees on safety protocol.

Attendance Policies

Another important detail employees should be informed about is the attendance policy. Outline, in writing, what constitutes an unexcused and excused absence. Also, explain to them what the consequences are for frequent, unexplained absences.

Rights To Compensation

Last but not least, all employees should know how they are getting paid. This detail should be covered in the final interview in the hiring process. In addition to the amount of pay, employees need to be informed of the type of pay involved. Topics covered should be whether the job pays by the hour, by commission, through profit sharing, or is salary-based.

Keeping up with company policy is a two-way street. Just as employees have a duty to inquire about every detail concerning their job, the company has a legal obligation to inform them. These are just a few tips that will help everyone in the workplace sleep a little better at night and stay out of the courtroom. For more information concerning employees' rights in the workplace, visit HarronLaw.com. They offer plenty of tools to help you understand laws and your rights as an employee.