Everyone tells me they know their employee rights. Some are even dumb enough to tell their employers they know their rights. The problem is, most of you are getting your legal information from courtroom TV shows or coworkers who know less than you do. Before you mouth off about your rights, here are some laws that most employees think exist - that don't.
• Wrongful termination
If you live in Montana, your employer can only fire you for just cause. Otherwise, they can fire you for any reason or no reason at all. They don’t have to have a good reason. They don’t even have to give a reason in most states. Arizona has a law based on the Montana law, but they took the "just cause" (and some other pro-employee stuff)out of it.
• Right to your file
No federal law requires private employers to allow employees to inspect or copy their own personnel files. Some states require employers to allow you to look at your file. Fewer allow you to copy items in your file. Many times, the only way you’ll find out what’s in your file is if you sue and you get it with a Request for Production, or if you subpoena it in unemployment or other proceedings.
• Breaks
No federal law requires employers to offer any work breaks for anything, even meals. Some state laws do require work breaks, but it’s not a majority. No law requires bathroom breaks, but it's probably a health issue, so OSHA might protect you if your employer denies bathroom breaks. If you're a nursing mother, you're entitled to an unpaid break to express breast milk if your employer is big enough. Some states also offer protection for nursing moms taking breaks.
• Hostile environment/harassment
Hostile work environment is not illegal. Harassment is not illegal. Bullying is not illegal. Hostile work environment or harassment due to race, age, sex, religion, national origin, disability, color, taking Family and Medical Leave, whistleblowing, or some other legally-protected status is illegal.
• Free speech
Only government employees have free speech protections, and those are very limited. You can be fired for your speech in the workplace or outside the workplace if you work for a private employer. You can't be fired for speaking on behalf of coworkers in order to improve work conditions or for objecting to something illegal, but be very careful to make sure you're protected before you speak out.
• Privacy
There is no law giving you privacy in your work emails or internet usage. If your employer is going to listen into or record phone calls, there are legal restrictions. You also have privacy rights in your medical information. There is no federal law protecting your social security number, but California and New York do offer limited protection against employers displaying your number.
• Right to work
Right to work doesn’t mean your employer can’t make you sign a non-compete agreement or restrict your ability to work for competitors after you leave. What it means is they can’t make you join a union in order to work there. Some states, but not all, are right to work states. If your company tells you that signing a noncompete agreement is meaningless or that it won’t be enforced, they are lying to you.
• Retaliation
There is no law prohibiting an employer from retaliating against you for reporting or objecting to policy violations, ethical violations, bullying, or jerkish behavior. Only if you do something that puts you in a legally protected category are you protected from retaliation. Examples would be objecting to discrimination, making a worker’s comp claim, or taking Family and Medical Leave.
• Discrimination
Discriminating against you for being you is never illegal. Favoritism, nepotism, being a jerk, are not illegal. Discrimination based on age, race, sex, religion, national origin, disability, color and genetic information are illegal.
• Individual liability
As much as it may give you joy to sue your boss personally, you probably can’t. Federal and many state discrimination laws, Family and Medical Leave Act (in some states - the courts disagree on this), and most other laws simply don’t allow it. The one exception is wage and hour violations. Some state discrimination laws do hold supervisors liable for violations. But what’s the point? Unless they’re rich, you probably won’t be able to collect anyhow.
Well that's wrong. What can I do about it?
Since most people think these laws exist, maybe it's time for them to actually be passed. Email your congressperson and state representative now and complain if you don't like the fact that you're not protected. Here are some places to find out how to contact your representative in Congress:
http://www.contactingthecongress.org/
http://www.congress.org
Here's a website with contact information for elected officials at the state and federal level:
http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml
This is good. People ask these kinds of questions all the time. I wasn't aware that Montana and Arizona were the only states that allowed an action for wrongful termination. Thanks for your post.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you enjoyed it. Hopefully more states will follow.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really great post. People are getting fired all of the time where I work. They think that the job has to provide a reason, but it is obvious, based on your post that they don't.
ReplyDeleteThis was really informative.
NAlexandra
www.myviewfromthesummit.blogspot.com
As an employment lawyer, I found that a lot of this information is good, but there are some errors.
ReplyDelete1. Only MT has a statute saying that once an employee has finished the probationary period, she can be fired only for good cause. AZ has no such law. And in some states, employers are required to give the employee a letter stating the reassons for termonation, if requested.
2. Federal law (as well as that of NY and other places) requires that nursing mothers get unpaid breaks to express milk.
3. There can indeed be individual liability for FMLA violations, as well as personal liability under state discrimination laws.
Hope this is helpful. You can go to www.fairmeasures.com for more info and employment law FAQs
Thanks Ann! I fixed it above. The Arizona law sure fooled me as someone who doesn't practice there. It was supposed to be based on the Montana law, but they sucked the pro-employee stuff right out of it. Go figure!
ReplyDeleteFMLA is split on individual liability - here in Florida and some other states there is still no liability for supervisors. I'm glad to hear some circuits are more enlightened.
Good catch on the nursing moms! How could I forget that one when I dealt with that issue myself twice?
I always welcome smarter folks than me who catch this stuff. I'm the first to admit I don't know it all - especially the non-Florida stuff.
Thanks for taking the time to let me know.
all of this information is wrong - you have advised people totally wrong info - i live in Florida and I have won several of the above mentioned items - if you need a break in state of Fl and they are not giving you one, just get a Dr note. If you want an hour and they give 1/2 get a Dr note stating why you need an hour - usually the Dr does not even care - you are paying him for an office visit - he usually will write what you tell him - stress - dr will approve all the time. You can file for wronful termination in the state of Florida and in all other states. If they fire you for stats, or they don't like your shirt.........not only can you file, you will win if your attny is any good - i was terminated for not meeting the amount of seconds (I was on phone on avg 45 sec more than they wanted) -- I sued and won against Macy's federated call center. I was not fired because I was a bad employee - in fact, i was only absent twice in a year and half and I had already accumulated over 100 outstanding customer service awards.........I had a friend who ws fired during training for transferring a call because he could not explain the warranty - they fired him for "un neccessry transfer - he sued and won..........do your research before you give out this wrong info - I even worked for a firm who "forced" you to initial that you would not be paid for filling out your employer paperwork or your 7 hour training if the terminated you within two weeks - i was terminated within 9 days (for stats) -- I did not even have to get a lawyer - I called their corporate office and told them if I was not paid, then I would be suing for wrongful termination as they could not judge my performance based on 16 hrs of work - they called the next day to say a check was on its way.....initials and all.......plus the Dept of Labor told me to send them a copy of that paper as it was 100 percent illegal to make an employee initial or sign something like that.
ReplyDeleteWell, Mike, I'd love to see copies of the judgments you claim your friend and you got. Your information is incorrect, and I'm quite certain the suits were not for being terminated without cause in Florida.
ReplyDeleteAs to being fired for objecting to not being paid for all time worked, that would be illegal under the Fair Labor Standards Act and under Florida whistleblower laws. The Department of Labor is correct - employers can't make employees waive their right to be paid for all hours worked.
Donna - you must be joking - why on earth would you be asking for copies of the judgements - just start studying some actual cases.......have you ever opened a Florida phone book?? Why do you think there are so many attornies practicing law in the field of wrongful termination?? They sure are not representing people in other states. And as I recently became certified as an ADA advocate, I encourage anyone with any kind of disability to check your rights under www.eeoc.gov/policy/doc/accommodation.html - go to Types of REasonable Accommodations Related to Job Performance number 17. "In a no-fault" case, unless the company can prove undue hardship, if you are on unpaid ada, and the company has a policy of let us say 1 year - too bad - if your dr sys you still need to be out, the company must modify their policy as an extension is considered a "reasonable accomodation " under ADA - sure, most people do not fight back and everthing you said goes sliding right back, but once you show them you are not afraid to fight, it usually the company (especially if it is large and has a reputation) will back down and settle out of court. You really need to pull up cases not just generalities.
ReplyDeleteI was at work when a co-work whom I asked for help, I just started and I was being trained. My trainer was not there. But when I asked who was "in charge" She snapped at me. Talking real fast and telling me I am doing everything wrong, and it was not protocol . When I politely said this is the way my trainer trained me, She snapped again and said " I highly doubt it, because that is not protocol' She proceeded to take the mouse an start to clkick it very fast so I could not see what she was doing. She brought me to tears. She walked out, came back and set a Box of tissues on my desk. walked out again. I was leaving at 2 pm . I got up my shift was over at 2 and proceed to get readiy to leave, That is when she asked if she could talk to me. I thought she was going to apologize to me, but I was wrong. No apology. She said she spoke with my trainer and he told her he DID TRAIN me that way SHE WAS WRONG. NO apology, She went on in a NASTY TONE. and said she printed off "Protocol " Because she knows I like to take things home to study" Very Condescending voice. I told her she was being very rude and condescending and I do not do Nasty. Then she "Rolled her head at me ! This all took place IN the Work Place. I told her I knew what that meant and I was not having any of it. So I left. On my way home on the bus my Boss called me asked what happened ? I told her the above, she heard everyone on the Bus. Telling me to get off the phone because they wanted to talk to me. Everyone was laughing including my boss, I told her she could tell I am well liked and she agreed, but I wanted this straightened out. Then I got off the bus by my Apt. went to the mini store, where there were Three different conversations going on , I did tell my boss I wanted an apology from the co-worker that did that or I could not work there anymore. then I told her to hold on, because the "new person" was giving me pennies" and I said Tell him and I did say him to go back to India, I don't care not pennies" LOL we all started laughing .. The other Girl at the store started to laugh ( she is from India) and said NO do not give her pennies.. It is a Joke, I was not even speaking to my boss on the phone. I was terminated because I was joking with my friends. Am I wrong ? The boss said I told her the co-worker could go back to India. No I did not say that, but I think she is saying this because she knows that co-worker had NO INTENTIONS of Apologizing to me, so she had to make it look like I said something wrong. NOT AT WORK, I worked under the Matures Worker's Program. I believe it is Funded by the Federal Gov. not sure. Am I at Fault , it was after work.
ReplyDeleteWhat if you have the most profitable Division/District out of 6 Divisions 22 Districts you contribute 45-50% of the EBITDA. Then a new position is created above you. A few months later because you may or may not get along with the new boss in the new position that was created, you get told only your Division Manager position is being eliminated due to economic downturn.
ReplyDeleteawesome infor mation
ReplyDeletebrillant
ReplyDeleteI was crying everyday during work and after work. I could also not afford to work or the pay they dropped me to, so I quit. Did I ruin my case for a suit?
ReplyDeleteI was terminated because my friend quit. I wasn't given no warning no nothing, I got a text from the manager and asked can I come talk. I got there and he wanted to talk about the situation that happened wit my friend. I said I did not want hear it because it bs nothing to do with me, then that's when they walked out the office and came back and said I'm sorry but I gotta let you go. I asked why, they said because of paper work from 2 mths ago, I asked can I see and why this just now being brought up. Got no answer. So I asked again n got the same reply so I asked what am I being terminated for they said " We a at no stand still right now" so I asked what that mean and I got no reply. So I said thank you and I left the property. What can I do.
ReplyDeleteI live in FL,i worked for a company that paid 15$/hr.my job required me to travel.I was to pay for all travel costs until my third race then I would get IC pay,independent contractor,.well six months went by I worked for 15$/hour ,no overtime pay,no travel pay,no perform no raise.got terminated in December.our job was in Orlando,the terminated me,dropped me off at airport with no identification and said I had a flight,well had no flight,my father had to drive from Pensacola to come get me.is their any way to recoup overtime pay or money spent while employed for them
ReplyDeleteCan someone help me I'm afraid my manager told another employee that's being transfered that it's specially my fault can they do that?
ReplyDeleteso in the state of ohio ive been termintaed for my job for leaving work early because i do not take my breaks or lunches all the time as to all employees in my job classifiaction have done,i was terminated because i didnt get prior approval,as all employees have not an got a talking to but not terminated,i am now on my step 3 grievance for discrimination,im not debating my wrong doing,but i am saying its discriminaton
ReplyDeleteEvrything is different for contracted workers/union also i dont see anything about this whats in your union contract is what goes alot of favoristism can be persue if not abiding by the contract
ReplyDeleteTwo questions: Is it illegal for a boss to get coworkers together to vote a person out? Is it also illegal to tell former employee's wife is the only person who can cause them to get a bad reference for future employment? Both of these were done to my husband this past Friday and I need to know our true rights.
ReplyDeleteFor being a bunch of lawyers these people aren't very smart. First every state has their own laws. Most laws are somewhat cookie cutter, basically they are roughly the same from state to state. But saying that this is the way it is in every state is a bit far fetched. Those minor differences could mean everything when suing. Now, i would argue about their definition of harassment. My previous employer kept contacting me via phone, text, email after I have already told them not to twice. I told them if they did it again, I would call the cops and file charges. They did, so I did. Mostly the cops contacted the company and told them to not contact me again because next time would come with charges, and that is really all I wanted was to be left alone. As for any personal advice a company can be nasty, but you have every right to be nasty right back. If they offer a product create 15 email accounts and leave negative feed back on google reviews and yelp. Heck I would even let all the air of their tires. Not by spiking the tires, but simply go there push in the valve stem to let out all of the air. You can call them and harass them. Take their email addresses and make them public online, sign their email addresses up for porn sites, take their phone numbers and sign them up for call lists. There are definitely ways that you can make their lives equally as miserable. If he is being a bully, I found most bully's are weak and if you stand up to them and get in their face, they will back down. Unfortunately, there are crappy people out there that will take advantage of you. Your best friend is going to be the labor department, and your state laws. So these lawyers are going to be worthless, it's best to find a lawyer in your home state.
ReplyDeleteI got terminated from a job because the employees were uncomfortable with me talking with another employee. I was literally fired for talking to someone and a co worker didn't like it. I was harassed by management and made to feel as if I did something wrong. The co worker who had a problem with me lied when talking about a conversation she over heard me having. Guys a vegetarian says darker the berry sweeter the juice as we're literally discussing fruit and I somehow pointed to my penis and said I know. It sickens me all someone has to do is say I heard and we got the Salem witch trails all over again.
ReplyDeleteAs for labor department being your best help. This is not the case in Montana. I filed for unpaid wages and the labor department was on the million dollar companys side. They did nothing for me.
ReplyDeleteThere are labor laws regarding breaks, as mentioned above, as mandated by a state government. Employees are entitled to a 10min paid break in the middle of every 4 hours of work. Are such state laws not the rule rather than the exception as is implied here?
ReplyDeleteEnlighten me