Employees in Florida have a host of legal rights. Both federal and state laws seek to ensure that workers are treated fairly. While the term fairly may be subjective, there are certain employment activities that are protected.
In a nutshell, this means that workers can behave in certain ways without being penalized or retaliated against. Outlined below are some of the most common examples of protected employment activities.
Complaints about unlawful behavior
It is unlawful for any employee to face discrimination based on protected characteristics such as race, religion, gender and disability. Should this occur at work, the affected party has a legal right to formally complain without facing negative repercussions.
If an employee is not subjected to discrimination but sees it happening to someone else, they are also free to make a formal complaint. Reporting discrimination and harassment are protected employment activities. Adverse action taken against those who complain is referred to as retaliation.
Complaints about health and safety
Some occupations are inherently dangerous. For example, construction work is widely regarded as one of the more dangerous professions, with a high number of fatalities occurring each year. Nonetheless, employers are still obliged to adhere to health and safety laws. If an employee feels like they are unnecessarily being put at risk, they can raise a grievance without facing negative repercussions.
Other forms of protected employment activities include:
- Complaining about not receiving the minimum wage
- Complaining about not being paid for overtime
- Taking leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
- Attending jury duty
If you have been penalized for engaging in a protected employment activity, then you have options. Seeking legal guidance will help to clarify these for you.