Know Your Rights

Labor Rights

Labor Unions

You have the right to organize with other workers in a labor union to advocate for your rights, For more information about your rights, contact Kentucky AFL-CIO at 502-695-6172.

If you are experiencing any of these problems mentioned below and there is a labor union at your workplace, contact your labor union representative to assist in solving the problem.

If there is no union at your workplace, contact the organizations below for assistance.

Wages and Hours of Work

You have the right to receive a minimum wage of $5.15. If you work over 40 hours a week, you have the right to be paid at least 1-1/2 times your normal rate of pay.

A worker must be at least 16 years old to work in most non-farm jobs. A worker must be 18 to work in non-farm jobs that are declared hazardous by the Secretary of Labor, Youths 14 and 15 years old may work limited hours outside school hours in non-manufacturing, non-mining, non-hazardous jobs.

If you are not receiving minimum or overtime wages, or want to report child labor violations, you may contact the Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division at 502-582-5226.

Safe Working Environment

You have the right to a safe and healthful workplace, You have the right to notify your employer or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) about hazards at your work. Call 1-800-321-6742. You may ask OSHA to keep your name confidential no matter what your legal status is, but you may need to give more information if OSHA decides to initiate an investigation into the workplace.

Non-Discrimination

Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, you have the right to be free from discrimination in your employment based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. Other laws protect workers from discrimination based on age and physical or mental disability.

Discrimination based on national origin is prohibited. Unlawful conduct may include ethnic slurs, insults, taunting by supervisor or co-workers. Treating employees with an accent differently and imposing speak-English only rules are also prohibited when the accent or inability to speak English does not keep the employee from doing their job. Contact the EEOC at 1-800-872-3362 to report this conduct.

You have the right to be free from sexual harassment in your workplace. Sexual harassment may include unwanted sexual advances, sexual and derogatory comments that interfere with your work and create a hostile, intimidating or offensive environment. If you are experiencing sexual harassment, you may file a complaint with your employer or contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Comission (EEOC) at 1-800-872-3362 or the Kentucky Human Rights Commission at 502-595-4024.

Retaliation

Your employer cannot retaliate against you for filing a complaint or protesting wages, unsafe environment, or workplace discrimination.

If you are an undocumented worker, your employer cannot retaliate against you by threatening to contact the INS. If you file a complaint, you may be able to seek back wages but will not be reinstated in your job if you are not authorized to work.

Contact the EEOC at 1-800-872-3362 to report employer retaliation.

Migrant Workers

Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Workers have these rights:

  • To receive information about wages and working conditions in writing and in English, Spanish or other languages.
  • To have the employer follow the terms of the work agreement, including being paid wages when they are due and receiving written statement of earnings for each pay period
  • To purchase goods from vendors other than the employer
  • To be transported safely in vehicles to and from the work site
  • To have safe housing and know the terms and conditions of living arrangements

Contact Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division at 502-582-5226.

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