No matter the place you are living and the profession you have, at some point in your life, you are probably going to work. Using your learned skills and putting your knowledge and ideas into your first desired job is surely something that you have imagined in your head over and over again. But is everything as simple as landing a job fitting your requirements? Unfortunately, no. Starting from your interview and internship period to drafting an employment contract and becoming the company’s regular worker – when walking along this path, you will encounter a number of various issues requiring careful preparation and attention.
When getting a new job position, it is essential only to be aware of everything about the company or organization you are applying to but also the nuances of labor laws, including your rights and obligations. Once you have a better understanding of what actions and rules are appropriate and which ones are against the law, you can easily fight against injustice and protect your rights.
In the article below, we will spread light on all essential factors and reasons why anyone should have a solid knowledge of labor laws and regulations. So, let’s begin.
What is Employment Law?
The legislation specifying rights and duties in labor, particularly the rights of workers and responsibilities of employers, is known as labor law. These laws can differ depending on the jurisdiction (the definition refers to employment laws within the US).
Labor laws intend to empower and protect employees’ rights. They ensure that employee-employer relations are well-balanced and monitored, enabling both sides to be held liable for their actions.
Moreover, apart from the individual contractual issues rooted in the traditional employment situation, labor laws deal with the collective relationships and constitutional requirements that are particularly important in mass-production societies and the various responsibilities and rights connected to some types of social services.
In a nutshell, even though there is a natural hierarchy between the worker and the employer, employment laws assist in aligning this inequality of power. As a result, no employer can take advantage of their workers, and both parties can evenly discuss the employment contract content and working conditions with each other.
Key Reasons to Study Labor Laws Before Applying For a Job
Here we gathered the top reasons why understanding labor laws is crucial for everyone.
#1 Decent Income
One of the first goals why people apply for a job is to earn an adequate amount of money and have a regular income. So, in a society where each person is after quite high and decent earnings, at the very least, one should know how to protect himself. That’s why understanding employment laws and knowing your rights allow you to have a general idea of such crucial things as the minimum wage, overtime work payment, bonuses, and so on. What’s more, you learn the significance of regular and timely payment, especially when it comes to monthly wages.
Employers are not allowed to exploit and make use of their employees. So, whenever you are made to work more than is stated in the agreement, you should be aware of your right to get appropriate compensation. In addition, employers also have an obligation to pay more when they require employees to work at night, on weekends, and on holidays.
#2 Regulated Working Hours
If you carefully check the labor laws of your country, you can notice that most of them stress the need and importance of regular and reasonable working hours. Such laws ensure that employees have a well-distributed work-life balance.
In all companies and firms, employees, along with weekly or monthly working hours, should be given paid annual leave. This guarantees that employers do not abuse their workers by making them do unpaid overtime work.
If employees are called to work on a national or international holiday, they will typically be given a compensatory holiday on any other regular working day.
#3 Discrimination
Prejudice against some people and discrimination is an issue that exists in almost any part of the globe. Employment laws, as such, are created to ensure that anyone can operate and work free of injustice and discrimination in a company. They keep an eye on the employee-employer relationship so that no prejudice can be inflicted on the basis of race, gender, religion, disability, or ethnicity.
Even today, a vast number of companies and firms do not pay female workers as much as they do male employees for the same work.
However, with the presence of employment laws and workplace regulations, workers can hold their employees liable and make sure that they are given their due rights.
#4 Protection
Apart from working hours, regular payments, and basic human rights, as an employee, your company should be responsible for certain aspects of your life. This can include the worker’s family responsibilities, such as parental leave, paternity leave, flex-time options, and so on. Your direct supervisor should be willing to ensure you can get paid leaves during times of personal obligations so that you can maintain a good work-life balance.
Also, another crucial and one of the most important features of internationally accepted employment laws is the one relating to child abuse and protection. In almost all countries, children who are under the age of 14 legally are not allowed to work. Even if there are places where a child can get a job at this age, the working hours should not exceed a few hours a day. This is vital in order to eliminate the possibility of child exploitation.
What to Conclude From All These?
As you can see, understanding your rights and responsibilities as an employee gives you the privilege and comfort of knowing what your employer or a company legally can and cannot do.
ыOn the other hand, if you do not have enough knowledge about the regulations and laws, you will not know if your rights are respected and if the employer is following his responsibilities or not. Just remember, only because your company is paying you, it does not necessarily mean you do not have rights and protections.