Employment law is the federal law that protects employee rights, fosters safe work environments, and prevents discrimination. 71% of executives consider employee engagement a major factor in the company’s growth, and supporting your employees’ rights is an ideal way to engage with them. The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) allows employees to have collective bargaining and participate in union activities. These employees are entitled to certain benefits, such as:
- Medical leave
- Health care
- Workers’ compensation
- Overtime pay
- Workplace safety
- Reasonable accommodations
- Unemployment insurance
The U.S. Department of Labor requires private sector or independent contractors and federal employees to receive the minimum wage at least. These benefits are often overlooked or taken for granted. The state laws also require employees to be protected from discrimination and harassment at work because of factors like national origin or age discrimination in employment act. Additionally, the Americans with Disabilities Act restricts discrimination based on disability.
Supporting your employees’ rights fosters a healthy work relationship and creates a positive work environment that enhances an organization’s growth. Here are some things you can do to ensure you support your employees’ rights.
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1. Keep Communication Lines Open
Your employees should be able to voice their concerns in any instances where they feel their rights were infringed. In addition, employees should be able to report any issues regarding their rights without fear of retaliation, as recommended by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
An open and unbiased communication line enables your employees to trust you. Unfortunately, a survey by Harvard Business Review reports that 58% of employees trust strangers more than their employer. However, once your employees are convinced that you have their best interests at heart, the trust gap is bridged. Encourage your employees to communicate honestly and openly via a written message or direct word of mouth to you.
2. Use Digital Signage
As technology advancements continue, businesses should not be left behind. Use digital signage to display employee rights within your work premises. You can place them in strategic areas like at the canteen where every employee can see them.
Some employees do not know all their rights within a work environment. Displaying their rights on digital signage keeps them informed and shows that you care about their well-being. Knowing you have their back is enough reason to trust you. And once you become trustworthy, your employees are ready to work extra hard to help your organization grow since they feel a genuine connection, and it almost feels like home.
3. Invite a Lawyer
Sometimes, ignorance may lead to the infringement of employee rights. To show maximum support for employee rights, invite a lawyer to your workplace for a session about the frequently asked questions regarding workers’ rights. In this session, have the lawyer explain the employee rights within the workplace and the due process in infringement cases.
Ensure every employee, including managers and supervisors, attend that session. They, too, need to know all the workplace rights to help them lead the rest of the team without discrimination and harassment. Candid talks about how these rights can be infringed will be a great eye-opener for all employees and bring about a positive change of attitude within the company.
When you inform your employees of their rights, you empower them to work effectively since the workplace guarantees occupational safety. When they feel safe, they will bring out their full potential towards growing the organization.
4. Handle All Infringement Cases Without Favor
With the open communication lines, you will receive complaints about specific team members infringing your employees’ rights. Once you get such complaints, get to the bottom of the matter, regardless of who the wrongdoer is.
The affected party can seek help from the federal government, labor organizations, or local government and government agencies. However, if the case can be handled internally, you need to stand by the truth. Sometimes, you may need to provide a fact sheet on the issue, depending on its severity.
Standing your ground in such matters will show your employees your support for their rights and ensure your work environment remains safe. Consequently, you will enhance the organization’s growth, as all employees will deal with each other respectfully and treat each other equally. This unity is perfect for a company’s growth.
5. Foster Conducive Working Conditions
According to the labor laws, employees have a right to work in a conducive work environment. A conducive work environment is safe, has no discrimination, lacks work disruptions caused by employee-employer disputes, and embraces health administration initiatives within the organization.
According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, EEOC, a safe workplace guarantees employees, and job applicants a fair chance in the hiring, firing, compensating and promoting aspects of employment. Moreover, enacting their civil rights and the fair labor standards act creates a positive work environment and ensures the conditions of employment are applied. In a safe and relaxed environment, employees can focus on their work and do it professionally and competently.
To Put It All Together
For your business to grow, you need to establish an employee-employer relationship built on trust and respect. Employees will go all out to grow a workplace where they feel safe and valued. Supporting their rights shows them you care about them, and feeling appreciated enhances motivation that will have your company experience massive growth.