Common Violations Of Employee Rights & Ways To Avoid Them

Labor lawApril 16, 2023

Employee rights are an important aspect of any workplace. Employees are entitled to certain basic protections and must be treated fairly according to the law. Unfortunately, there are many instances where employee rights are violated in some way or another.

Jon / Pexels / More often than not, employees unwillingly and unknowingly violate their own rights.

In this article, we will discuss common violations of employee rights, as well as ways to avoid them:

What are Common Violations of Employee Rights?

When it comes to violations of employee rights, there are a few key areas that employers often overlook or ignore. These include:

Discrimination

Employers must treat all employees equally regardless of race, gender, or religion. And it goes beyond one’s age, disability status, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristics.

However, all these are under the laws enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Wage & Hour Violations

Employees must be paid at least the minimum wage and overtime, if applicable. Likewise, employers must also comply with other wage and hour laws.

These include such as meal and rest break requirements.

Unsafe Working Conditions

Employers are required to maintain a safe workplace for their employees. Thus, this includes providing proper equipment and ensuring hazardous materials are stored safely.

Apart from that, ensuring workers have adequate training on how to operate any equipment or tools they may be using.

Olia / Pexels / To avoid violating employee rights, employees need to be acquainted with relevant laws.

Harassment

All forms of harassment in the workplace, including sexual harassment, are strictly prohibited. Employers must take appropriate steps to prevent any kind of harassment from occurring in their workplace.

How to Avoid Violations of Employee Rights

Employers must take steps to ensure that their workplace is compliant with the applicable laws and regulations.

Here are some tips for avoiding violations of employee rights:

Familiarize Yourself with All Relevant Laws & Regulations

It is important for employers to have a good understanding of the laws and regulations that govern the workplace.

Nonetheless, this includes but is not limited to wage and hour laws, discrimination & harassment laws, safety regulations, etc.

Educate Employees on Their Rights

All employees should be aware of their rights in the workplace. So, employers can provide training or information sessions to discuss various labor law topics.

Thus, these include such as:

– Discrimination

– Harassment

– Wages

– Hours worked

– Breaks, etc.

Ivan / Pexels / To ensure the avoidance of employee rights violations, employers should enforce stubborn policies.

Establish Clear Policies and Procedures

Employers should have written policies and procedures that clearly outline expectations for employees. These should be kept up to date with any changes in law or regulations. Likewise, they should be as updated regularly.

Investigate All Complaints Promptly

All complaints of violations of employee rights must be taken seriously and investigated promptly. Thus, this will help ensure the workplace complies with applicable laws and that employees feel comfortable coming forward when they have an issue.

The Final Word

Employee rights violations can occur in any workplace, regardless of size or industry. It is important for employers to take steps to ensure their workplace is compliant with all relevant laws and regulations. Similarly, it is crucial to ensure that they are doing everything they can to protect their employees’ rights.

Thus, taking the above steps can help employers avoid violations of employee rights. And create a safe, fair, and enjoyable workplace for all.