As an employee you have certain rights protected by local, state and federal law. You have the right to equal employment opportunities—application and pre-employment procedures, hiring, promotions, wages, hours and conditions of employment, job training and disciplinary procedures—regardless of your gender, pregnancy, age, religion, disability (click here for additional legal protections for those with disabilities), national origin, ancestry, genetic makeup or sexual orientation. You may even be entitled to accommodations for your disability or religious practices. These laws may also protect you from workplace harassment on the basis of any of these characteristics. In addition to these anti-discrimination laws, employees may also have the right to:
- Minimum wages and overtime
- Compensation for workplace injury
- Safe and healthy environment in which to work
- Unemployment benefits
- Report certain legal violations without retaliation (whistle blowing)
- Medical leave for yourself or a member of your family
- Freedom to organize, encourage and support an employees union