As an employee, you are legally entitled to take certain actions or participate in some activities at your workplace without fear of retaliation from your employer. In other words, your employer should not punish you for engaging in these activities as they are protected by law.
Knowing what workplace activities are legally protected can empower you to exercise your rights at the workplace while protecting your interests. Below are some of these activities.
Reporting discrimination and harassment
You have the right to report workplace discrimination or harassment based on protected characteristics like your race, gender or age. Filing a formal complaint with human resources, speaking up during an investigation or submitting a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) are all protected actions.
Requesting reasonable workplace accommodation
Employees have the right to request reasonable accommodations for disabilities or religious practices. As such, you can ask your employer to make certain modifications to the work environment to enable you to perform your essential job functions. These may include adjusting work schedules, providing assistive technology or making physical modifications to make the workplace more accessible.
Reporting unsafe working conditions
You can report unsafe working conditions without fear of employer retaliation. This includes filing complaints about workplace safety violations or refusing to work in dangerous conditions when there is a significant risk of harm.
Addressing wage and hour violations
Raising concerns about unpaid wages, overtime violations or failure to meet minimum wage requirements is protected by law. You should not be subject to workplace retaliation for filing a complaint with your employer or a government agency regarding wage and hour violations.
Other activities safeguarded by law include participating in certain union-related activities, opposing unlawful actions and taking legally protected leave. Reaching out for legal guidance when facing adverse actions for engaging in these and other protected workplace activities can help you understand your rights, take informed steps and seek fair remedies.