Know your rights: If your boss is screwing you, write it down
Another Friday edition of “Know Your Rights.” (And it is still Friday in the Central time zone, even if I only made my self-imposed deadline by eight minutes. It counts.) Even though all American workers are entitled to certain rights, it’s impossible to defend them if you don’t know what they are. The organization Arise Chicago has compiled them in a single handy pamphlet, which is the source of these weekly posts.
Today, the importance of keeping records. Does your boss force you to work overtime without paying time-and-a-half? Write it down. No bathroom breaks allowed during the shift? Write it down. Fired for organizing? You guessed it, write it down.
It can be hard to remember the details of an event after the fact. But if you need to take legal action against your employer, you’re going to need names, dates and a catalog of violations. So keep detailed records of problems as they occur. It’s like keeping a personal diary, only more infuriating.
Be sure to note the following:
- The days and hours you worked, as well as the address and phone number of your employer
- Your supervisor’s full name
- A description of the possible violation, including the date, time and location
- The name of anyone else who was threatened by the possible violation, witnessed it or discussed it
- Phone calls to government agenices, support services, attorneys and insurance agents.
Last but not least, save any and all documents. This includes pay stubs, personnel policies, union cards and contracts.
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People often assume they have no recourse. It also helps if you can find out if this employer was previously sued, or lost, for such behaviors as there’s a track record you may be becoming part of. This helped me win severance from one abusive workplace.
Thanks for sharing. I’m a firm believer in workers sharing information about strategies they’ve used successfully in the workplace. We only hurt ourselves when we don’t.
This coming Friday’s “Know Your Rights” post will deal with what violations get reported where. Here in Cook County, Ill., there are no fewer than 11 agencies handling workplace complaints.
In response to another comment. See in context »If I only had this knowledge a year ago. I could have written extensively about a certain man at a certain organization. Oh well. Guess I have to rely on karma for payback.
But now I know! Thanks.
Gosh, Megan, I’m so sorry to hear you’ve had problems in the past. How shocking! Thank goodness karma seems to be working more swiftly these days.
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