As an employee of a workplace, you have a number of rights that are designed to protect you and your capacity to earn a living. In most workplaces, employees will never have to worry about their employer encroaching on those rights. In some circumstances though, it can be a genuine problem and a tough one to deal with. It’s hard to know exactly what action to take, who to speak with and what to say. If you feel as though your workplace rights are being violated, consider these tips for possible actions you can take.
Consult an expert
Employee rights can be tricky to decipher and even harder to understand if they are being violated. If you believe that your rights are being violated it’s best to consult an expert. Lawyers in Melbourne, or wherever you are based are the best point of contact to better understand your situation. Legal expertise in this space can help assess your claims and whether taking further action against your employer is the best strategy. Backed by years of experience in employee rights, a lawyer will be able to clearly define whether you have a case against your employer, and if so, what evidence you may need to start gathering.
Be certain
Workplace rights can sometimes be hard to decipher. Before taking any action with other people, be certain within yourself. Take the time to read through any relevant documents, such as your workplace code of conduct, your employment contract and any other policies relating to employer or employee rights and responsibilities. Understanding these documents should be the first step any employee takes when trying to confirm their rights are being violated. Once you have the clarity and evidence, you can begin to plan out the next steps which may be internal or external to your workplace.
Escalate
Depending on who you feel is violating your rights, one of the first steps you can take, is to escalate your concerns with the management at your workplace. Be prepared with the evidence gathered when you reviewed all relevant policies or documents to ensure that the management at your workplace understands your concerns. HR management has a responsibility to take all reported concerns seriously, and often this step is required before seeking legal advice. By escalating your concerns you are creating a record of your concerns and the action taken. Depending on whether you can go to your direct manager or not, it can also be useful to include a few levels of management in your communications to demonstrate the gravity of your situation.
Keep records
Any case of employee rights violations, whether it be heard by management or in a courtroom, will require evidence. Take action early and maintain records of any communications or documents that you feel have contributed to your rights being violated. Printing hard copies and saving electronic copies is the best way to safeguard against any loss or damage of information. Even if you believe something to be irrelevant, keep a copy. Legal experts will want any and all records to make a comprehensive decision on your case. No matter how small the detail, be sure to save a copy for your records while you can.
Employees have many rights in the workplace, some physical and others psychological, such as safety. In any case, where an employee feels like their rights are violated, there are a number of actions that could be taken. Some actions are more critical than others, but ultimately the worst thing to do is nothing. If you need assistance to understand what action to take when your rights are violated, consider these simple tips.
