Employee Legal Rights

Every employee has some legal rights.

An employee's rights include fair pay, time off from work and the right to privacy while at work. The employee's private religious or political beliefs cannot be held against her. An employee cannot experience any type of discrimination at work due to race, national origin, gender, age, disability or other personal characteristics.

Family Medical Leave Act

According to the Family Medical Leave Act, all employees have the right to be off for family and medical emergencies. An employee having a child or going through adoption procedures with his child has the right to family leave. If an employee or a family member of the employee becomes seriously ill, the employee has the right to time off. Each employee is legally allowed to have 12 unpaid weeks of work off within a 12-month period, according to the Family Medical Leave Act.

Fair Labor Standards Act

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, employees have the right to be paid for all hours of labor he has provided. No employee may be paid less than the federal minimum wage except for a few industries, including seasonal, construction and agricultural workers. If an employee receives tips, the employee is still entitled to receive the federal minimum wage rate if his tips and adjusted minimum-wage amount is less than the federal rate. When an employee works overtime, generally 40 hours in a seven-day period, she is entitled to overtime pay for any hours worked beyond the regular 40 hours.

Equal Pay Act

The Equal Pay Act requires employers to pay male and female employees equally for doing the same work. But if one employee has a higher level of skill, uses more effort and holds more responsibility, that employee may be paid more than the other.

Workers' Compensation

With few exceptions, employees have the right to workers' compensation insurance for all work-related injuries. An employer may be exempt if it is below a certain size or is in an exempt industry, but then it must cover the medical bills and any wage loss of the employee due to the injury.

Privacy Rights

An employee has the legal right to her religious or political beliefs. An employer cannot fire or refuse to hire an employee due to his faith or politics. However, an employee may not disrupt the workplace by trying to convert another employee.

References

• Equal Pay Act