Share this...

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Linkedin

Working in an office can be pretty hectic. Between meetings and deadlines, it can be easy to miss some of the small details. That’s why it’s important to have a few common worker rights myths under control. They can be distracting and even harmful if they distract you from your work. They can also make it difficult to understand your company’s policies and procedures.

Most importantly, they can make you feel like you have no voice in the workplace. That’s why it’s important to know the truth about these six common worker rights myths.

1. The Right to Protest

First and foremost, the right to protest is 100% true. Workers in America have the right to strike for both economic and political reasons. You can protest for any reason you want and the only stipulation is that it needs to be peaceful.

As long as you’re walking with a sign, or wearing a t-shirt, you are completely within your rights. That’s why you need to understand all the information on your employment rights.

2. The Right to Privacy

Privacy is important to most people. We all want to be able to go about our lives and not have others intruding on them. But what about in the workplace? Can employers monitor you without your permission? The answer is no.

Employers are not allowed to intrude into your privacy at work, unless they have a good reason for doing so. If you feel like an employer has violated your privacy rights, make sure you report it immediately and take appropriate steps, like filing a complaint with the Labor Board or seeking legal counsel, if necessary.

3. The Right to Bargain Collectively

One common myth about worker rights is that employees don’t have the right to bargain collectively. This isn’t true. Just because you don’t work in a unionized company doesn’t mean you can’t negotiate with your employer. There are plenty of ways to bargain, like asking for a raise or negotiating with your boss for more vacation time or flexible hours.

Even if you don’t get what you want, at least you know that your voice was heard and you tried! The myth that employees can’t bargain collectively is false; even if there isn’t a union, people can always negotiate their working conditions with their employers.

4. The Right to Organize and Unionize

Myth: You can freely organize and unionize. Truth: Employees cannot organize or unionize on company property, but they may do so off of company property.

Organizing and unionizing can be a great way to gain a little more control over your work environment. Unfortunately, employees aren’t allowed to organize or unionize on company property. The truth is that people are often scared to voice their opinions in the workplace because they feel like they won’t be respected if they do.

So, it’s important for people to know that this isn’t true. Instead, it might just help them get what they want from their job.

5. The Right to Healthy Working Conditions

It’s true that some jobs are more physically demanding than others. But this doesn’t mean you don’t have the right to a safe and healthy work environment. There are many factors that contribute to a healthy work environment, such as proper ventilation, temperature control, and safety from electrical hazards.

If your company is violating these standards, you should contact your Human Resources department or Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) if it’s not part of your company’s HR team. The OSHA website has some helpful tips for staying safe on the job that you can use to protect yourself from injury.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is that one of the most important aspects of your career is becoming knowledgeable about your rights. With that knowledge, you can have a better idea of how to behave in the workplace and feel more empowered.