It isn’t necessary to have an in-depth knowledge of employment laws to understand your basic rights as an employee. There are minimum requirements that all employers must adhere to and that apply to all employees, even if they are not specifically outlined in your contract or employment agreement. It is also important to remember that your basic rights as an employee cannot be waived or ignored by an employee agreement.
You are protected by the law and always are entitled to a minimum set of rights. The law protects you by establishing a minimum amount you can be paid, known as minimum wage. You also have a right to paid time off from work as well as sick and bereavement leave. All employees also have a right to have time off for public holidays. Most importantly, all employees have the right to say no if they are asked to do work that would place them in harms way or if the proper safety measures are not being followed by the employer. All employees have a right to be safe at their job. There are also employment laws designed to protect employees from unlawful discrimination, that is, discrimination on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, and other factors.
You should be provided with an employment agreement in writing, establishing your entitlements and obligations prior to commencing your employment. Employees also have a right to have their wages remain intact, with no deductions taking place unless that employee agrees in writing to the deduction. One of the most important concepts to understand when it comes to employment laws is the concept of good faith. Acting in good faith means that you are acting with the best of intentions and that all dealings between employers, employees, and unions are honest and with no one’s harm in mind.
Your written employment agreement is an essential document that should detail your duties, you job classification and description, and your entitlements and additional rights. Employment agreements can be collective or individual, depending on your line of work and whether you belong to a union. You have a right to have a copy of your signed employment agreement and your employer must keep a copy of it on file. An employee agreement can never eliminate the minimum employee rights listed above. What it can do is establish negotiable rights and entitlements in addition to those that are established as a baseline minimum by the law.
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This article was brought to you by Sebastian. Sebastian worked in the legal industry for many years and is now a content writer for lawyers.com.au.