Many employees are aware of the protections that they are afforded under the law?protection from sexual harassment, discrimination and wrongful termination?but there are many rights you have as an employee that you may not know about. For example, did you know that you can see your personnel file? As a private employee, even a former private employee, you can inspect your file to see what information it contains.
You may be surprised to learn that if your employment is terminated, your unused vacation time is not forfeited. Much like unpaid wages, you are entitled to unused vacation pay. It is also worth mentioning that your employer cannot garnish your paycheck if you make an error. An honest, reasonable mistake will often earn your employer’s ire, but it is illegal for them to punish you for this accident by deducting money from your paycheck.
Perhaps the most surprising fact that you may not know is that you can refuse to perform unsafe jobs, within reason. Thanks to the California Labor Code, if you are asked to perform work that a reasonable person would consider hazardous to his/her health or safety, you can refuse to do the job. However, you must inform your supervisor what you believe is dangerous so that your employer can make the job safer. If your employer does not make the job safer, you can refuse to perform the job and even file a complaint.
You can find even more interesting employee rights in this article. This will help you take advantage of all of your legal rights and protections. If you believe that your rights as an employee have been violated, consider meeting with an attorney. You could be entitled to compensation.