What Are The Rights Of An Employee?

Employment laws have to do with every right and obligation of an employee and rules that guide the employer-employee relationship; this can also include current and former employees, as well as a job applicant. Studies show that many of the legal disputes related to businesses have to do with work-related regulations and the rights of the employees.  The employment relationship is somewhat complex and so many issues can arise as a result.  Employment laws have to do with so many aspects as highlighted below:

• Workplace safety
• Discrimination
• Overtime
• Wrongful termination of employment
• Wages

Are you a job seeker, an employee or an employer? You need to be fully aware of the rights of the employees as this can promote a functioning and healthy workplace for all.

In the remaining part of this write-up, we will focus more on the rights of an employee. Bear in mind that most of the rights are universal.

The rights of an employee

An employee has the right to privacy even in the workplace. He has the right to have his personal possessions provided those personal possessions are approved by the employer. The employee has the right to receive a private mail addressed to him sent via the company’s post office box. The employer equally has the right to have a locked storage within the premises of the company if he so desires. The employee can also bring his or her briefcase or handbag to the office premises.

Furthermore, an employee can receive voicemail messages or telephone conversation via the office line or within the company’s premises; this particular right, however, depends on the country or the company involved.  You need to know that most companies do not support their employees using the company’s computer system to browse the internet for personal purpose or receive e-mail messages

Some other rights of an employee in a company are highlighted below:

• Right of complete freedom from discrimination and any type of harassment
• Rights of the employee to a safe and secure workplace environment, an environment devoid of potential safety hazards, toxic substances and dangerous working environment.
• Right of the employee to be completely free from any form of retaliation consequent of filing a complaint or claim against the company; this is usually called the whistleblower rights.
• Right of the employee to a fair wage for the work done by the employee.

Rights of a job applicant

A job applicant must also be accorded with some rights. He might not have been employed yet, but he must still be accorded with some rights. The job applicant must be free from any form of discrimination based on religion, national origin, race, gender or age.  As an employer, you have no right to ask the applicant any family-related question during a job interview.