Working a blue-collar job means that you’re likely getting your hands dirty. You probably work long hours, and you likely don’t know all of your rights as a worker. Don’t allow yourself to be treated poorly, just because you’re not making $200,000 a year.
Blue-collar workers provide the backbone for modern society. Know your worth, and know your rights. Take a moment to read through a few things every blue-collar worker should know before punching the clock.
Don’t allow employers to place you in an uncomfortable position
Employers are often looking for any way possible to reduce costs and maximize efficiency. The problem comes when they place people with limited knowledge in an unfamiliar position and expect them to excel.
If you’re not fully trained for a particular position, you do not have to place yourself at risk of failure or injury. Speak up for yourself in an instance like this, and know that your employer has a legal responsibility to hear you out.
You have the right to compensation after an injury
If you are injured on the job, your employer is liable for the financial reparations necessary to supplement your income. If your employer tries to refuse to allow you to report an injury, they are in breach of the law.
Don’t allow yourself to be treated unfairly, and contact a lawyer who specializes in workers’ rights. Your life has to go on after your injury, and you need the financial reparations to see that it does.
You have the right to FMLA leave
You should know that you have the right to take a leave from work if someone in your family is sick or has passed. The Family Medical Leave Act provides workers with legal safety when they need to take some time off of work.
The act states that you cannot be fired during your leave. However, your employer is under no legal obligation to pay you for your FMLA leave.
Never work when you’re not on the clock
A good employer will tell you to never work when you’re not on the clock, but not every employer is a good one. Don’t let your boss sucker you into working when you’re not being paid for your time.
You have a business contract with your employer that is activated when you clock in for your shift. Working off the clock breaches contract, and it makes you susceptible to trouble. If you’re hurt while working off the clock, your employer isn’t necessarily liable for compensation.
Learn to be your own advocate
You set yourself up to succeed when you go into a situation with knowledge. Learn to be your own advocate in the workplace, and say something. Speak up for your rights as an employee, and don’t let your employer jerk you around.