If you are a teenager who is currently working, then you have rights just like adults do. According to a publication sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teenagers have the right to work in a safe and healthy environment. They also have the right to get safety and health training for their job. For example, if you are teenager who is working in a factory, you will need safety training regarding how to handle the machines. If you are working in a restaurant, then you may also need to receive training on how to carefully navigate the restaurant without slipping and how to clean up spill promptly. If English is not your primary language, and you cannot understand your training, then you have the right to a translator who can help you to comprehend what is being said.
As a teenager, you also have the express right to earn at least the federal minimum wage. You can check out your state’s minimum wage at www.dol.gov if you want to determine how much you should be getting paid. As well, whether you are a teen or an adult, you should be compensated for any medical care that is a result of an injury or illness you acquired on the job. For example, if you are a barista at a Starbucks and slip behind the counter, suffering a concussion, then you should be paid for medical treatment. If you are working construction and inhale too much asbestos, and this results in suffering, then you also have the right to compensation in this situation. Any non-work related illnesses or injuries will not be compensated in most situations.
If you have to skip work to recover from an injury or illness you obtained on the job, then your company is required to pay for those sick days in most situations. You also have the right to work without being harassed. Anyone who displays prejudice against you in your workplace can be confronted. You also have the right to ask for changes in your workplace or your work hours because of a religious belief or a medical condition.
If your employer does not adhere to your rights as an employee, then you can confront him or her and may even need to hire a worker’s compensation lawyer to help you advocate for your rights in court. With the right attorney on your side, you can effectively prove that your rights are not being honored in your situation. Talk to a personal injury and New York worker’s compensation lawyer at Katz, Leidman, Freund & Herman. The attorneys at this firm will stand by your side as you argue your case and seek the compensation or rights that you deserve!