It can often be hard being on this side of the employment spectrum. You need to know what it is that you are entitled to, and what you are not, so that you can make as many of the right decisions as possible. However, there is much that can get in the way there, as anyone can tell you, and it is important to try to find the underlying cause of what you should really expect from your work and what you might not be able to expect. In this article, we are going to take a deeper look at some of the things that you should absolutely expect from your employer as a basic. Be sure that your employer is providing these things – and if they are not, make sure that you are doing whatever you can to change that for yourself and your colleagues.
Fair Pay
The amount you are paid is always a contentious issue. For one thing, everyone feels that he or she deserves to be paid well, and it is easy to fall into the trap of expecting more and more as times goes on. In a sense, this is correct – you should generally be paid more for working with a single employer for longer. However, you should also be paid according to the national rate of inflation, and therefore, you can reasonably expect your pay to increase year after year. If it does not, you might have genuine ground for complaint against your employer. Something that you definitely are entitled to is fairness in your pay – in other words, that you are receiving the right amount, and the same amount compared to other people who are doing the same job. Being paid fairly is an absolute basic, so make sure that you are fighting for this one if necessary. There is no reason not to be paid fairly, regardless of what work you do.
A Safe Workplace
There are so many instances every year of workplace accidents, and this is extremely unfortunate and unnecessary. All workers deserve to feel safe in their working environment, and that means that employers need to focus on maintaining this sense of safety at all times. However, it goes beyond just making it feel safe – they must be doing whatever they can to genuinely make it safe as well. Your employer should listen whenever you report something to them that seems unsafe, and if you feel that they are not doing enough you should not hesitate to report them. Similarly, they have a duty to minimize the risk of any injury being caused to you or any of your colleagues. If you are injured and you feel that they have not done their part to prevent it, then you should contact the likes of DeSalvo Law to see if you can make it better for those who will come after you. Employers must be held accountable for their failures to protect their staff against workplace injuries and other related incidents. If you do not feel safe at work, that is simply unacceptable.
The Chance to Progress
Everyone deserves the real opportunity to progress in his or her career, and in the company, and for that reason if you feel this is being held from you, you should absolutely do something about it. This can be a tough call to make however, as there is no such thing as the obligation to promote you – but what there is instead is that you and your fellow employees must have the equal chance to progress up the ladder in the corporation you work for. This means that nothing is actively put in your way, and that you are given the same chance whenever it might arise. If this is not being done, it is a serious breach of your rights, and not something that you should take lightly. You deserve to have the right to progress, so if you are not getting it, be sure to report your manager or the business as a whole.
A Fair Dismissal Routine
Your employer cannot just fire you on the spot without a good reason, and it is worth remembering this, as too often employers get away with this due to a lack of understanding around the issue. Your employer has to have a process in place for dismissal, and there must be a chance for you to have your say at some point along the way. In most cases, there will also need to be a chance for the employee to make a mistake. You cannot be fired on the spot for a first offence, unless it is gross misconduct. So make sure that your employer has this all written down clearly and on display, otherwise you might find that it affects you badly one day. If not you, then it could be one of your close friends – and it can be one of the most shocking things to happen to anyone in the workplace.
Politeness
In many respects, the little things matter the most. For that reason, you can reasonably expect your employer to be as polite to you as possible, as this is something that you are absolutely owed as a human being. If you feel that your employer is routinely rude to you for no reason, then you should absolutely ensure that they do not get away with it by reporting them immediately. You have the right to be treated with respect, and if this particular right is not adhered to, it can make for an upsetting time at work at the best of times. In return, of course, you should extend this same politeness – and the same goes for you and your colleagues too. You should give as you would like to get – and not stand for any distinct lack of politeness on your employer’s part.
All of the above are owed to you automatically, so do whatever you can to ensure you get it, and punish those who fail to provide these essentials to you.
