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!