When you are getting a job for the first time, it can be hard to know how to fight for yourself. Part of the reason for that is that you are usually going to be quite overwhelmed and intimidated by what is going on and the position you find yourself in now. And it’s partly because you are going to not know what you are owed and what you deserve. In this post, we are going to help with that. Here are some of the main things that you can rightfully expect from your employer, regardless of the position you hold or the company you are working in.
Pay
Of course, perhaps most important of all is the issue of pay. You deserve to be paid for your work, and what’s more there are certain rules that need to be followed by your employer here to ensure you are paid fully, properly and fairly. You should receive at least the minimum wage for what band you are in, and this should be equal to all people in the same role with the same level of experience. You should also be paid on time each month, regardless of when the payroll month begins and ends. And you should receive a paycheck outlining what you earn and so on.
Fair Treatment
In general, you should be treated fairly while you are at work, meaning that you are going to be treated in a way that respects you and which means you are treated the same as anyone else. If you are not being treated this way, then you have the right to complain, and to take that complaint further if it does not seem to be getting anywhere. This is something that can be hard to fight for at first, but it’s important that you do.
No Discrimination
Employers have to be very careful not to discriminate against anyone on the grounds of sex, gender, race, culture, belief or religion, sexuality, lifestyle choice, disability, or really anything else that you can think of. This means that you need to get what you deserve and have the same options and opportunities as everyone else. Again, where this doesn’t happen, you have the right to take that further where necessary. Thankfully, most employers do not openly discriminate in this way. But sometimes there is more subtle discrimination, and it can take a while to notice it happening.
Respect
In a normal, human to human way, you deserve to be shown respect when you are in the workplace, and in all dealings with you whether they are in person or written communication, or over a video conference call. In any scenario, you deserve to be respected on a normal and basic level. If you are not getting this, that is a sign that the employer probably doesn’t deserve to have you, and you might well want to think about your options. Make sure you are getting the respect you deserve every time.
