How to Protect Yourself as an Employee

2 mins read

Everyone should feel safe in their place of work and, ideally, love what they do. Nothing is worse than walking into the office and feeling uncomfortable, whether that is due to your colleagues’ attitudes or a horrible boss who doesn’t respect you. While you might not be able to control the actions of others, you can take some steps to make sure that you are protected as an employee and hopefully help to create a more positive working environment for yourself.

Understand Your Rights

OK, it isn’t exactly fun having to research employee rights and it’s understandable why many people don’t bother to do this because of that reason. However, it is important information that you need to know. If you don’t have at least a basic understanding of your rights as an employee, you might find yourself in a position where you are being exploited. Before you sign any employee contracts, make sure you go over the details with a fine-tooth comb and look up your basic rights to make sure you’re not being taken advantage of.

Report Harassment

No one should ever feel harassed or discriminated against in any part of life, and especially not when you’re just trying to do your job. Reporting harassment isn’t always easy, and there are many reasons why an individual might choose not to do this. Nevertheless, you must report this behavior to the HR department and consider taking legal action against your employer to hold them accountable. If you’re not sure about the laws regarding harassment, look up terms such as sexual harassment laws in California or the state you’re living in to get more information on how you can take legal action and report this behavior.

Be Careful Who You Confide In

It’s always nice to make friends at work as this does help to create a more positive environment, and sometimes you might have bonded so closely with someone that you make a friend for life. While this can certainly happen, it is rare, and it’s important to be mindful about who you are confiding in when you’re at work, particularly when you might be venting about your frustrations with the job or another colleague. Office gossip is a real thing and can be toxic, so try to be mindful about what you say at work and to who.

Speak to Your Manager If Your Struggling

If you are going through some personal issues, are feeling unwell, or there is something else that is impacting your general well-being, it is a good idea to speak to your manager or supervisor about this. If they notice a change in your performance, giving them some context as to why this is happening will help to make sure that they don’t think you’re losing interest in your work or are no longer an asset to the team. They could also help to implement a plan to help make your duties easier for you and provide the right support you need at work to get through this challenging period.

 

If you want to make sure that you’re protected at work, consider these tips and see how they can help you.