Right to Work state
“ What is the right to work state? ” is one of the most common questions when we discuss employee rights. Not only in HR but in any industry you choose to work in, if you live in a right-to-work state, you should know how these laws will affect you. These laws cover millions of private-sector employees working across multiple industries throughout the United States.
What is the right-to-work state?
A “right-to-work” state is a state that has successfully enacted legislation guaranteeing that no individual employee can be forced as a condition of employment to join a labor union or any organization. States have the right to enact these laws under Section 14(b) of the National Labor Relations Act of the US (NLRA).
A right-to-work state has passed legislation at the state level giving detailed descriptions for employees regarding their right to work at a job while having a choice of whether to join a union or not. Over half of the United States has passed state laws addressing this issue.
Whenever an employee is hired in a right-to-work state by an employer, he must consider all pros and cons of joining a union, and then decide whether he is interested in joining or not, and how this will affect him. In any right-to-work state, an employee is not directed by the law to join any union. Employers must abide by right-to-work laws else they will be held accountable under federal and state laws.
Opinions on the right-to-work state are completely varying in nature. Some view it as a good thing, that gives individuals more freedom in their chosen field and the right to reject compulsory membership. Others do not agree with it. They opposed, including many labor and employee rights groups, because they feel right-to-work states are anti-union and do not provide protections for employees against unjustifiable actions by employers while placing the cost of protecting employees’ rights (member and nonmembers) on the union and dues-paying members. Different people have different opinions on it, but overall this law allows employees to take their decision instead of forcing them to join any union.
Can you have a case against your employer?
When your employer is doing actions like
- Threatening employees with jobs or benefits.
- Transferring or laying off.
- Assigning difficult tasks knowingly, or
- Threatening them to close a plant or industry if they choose a leader and make a union.
The employee has the right to file a case against him for such actions. At any time, if you feel that your employer has violated employee rights, you can contact the employee rights attorney to discuss your problems. Employers and HR easily violate employee rules thinking that they are not aware of their rights. That’s why knowing employee rights and laws is necessary when you work in any right-to-work state.
In addition to that, if your employer violated at-will employment laws such as firing you based on your race, religion, colour, disability, or sex, you can still have a case against your employer.
