It’s sad to admit it but work isn’t always a perfect experience. Many employers can be overly demanding, unfair, or even inhumane in their treatment; this is a truth that we can sadly find all around our society. But the important thing we must understand is that it doesn’t have to be this way.

Every single employee in the United States counts with legal tools to help them enforce and defend their rights. From work law itself to individual attorneys specialized in the subject. The tools are all there, but we need to be able to identify when our rights aren’t being upheld. So today we’ll go over some practical advice so you can know when your rights aren’t being respected, and what you can do to stand up for them.

If it sounds unfair it likely isn’t legal

Sometimes our gut feelings are the best indicator that something is off at work. Can you look back and think of certain moments where you felt you were treated unfairly or irregularly? Maybe certain payments arrived too late, you were overlooked despite seniority or a co-worker stepped out of the line. None of this should ever happen, but being able to identify if it is a legal issue can make a difference.

EmployeeRightsAttorneygroup.com is a wonderful resource to identify these cases and learn how legal they truly are. This group banded together to protect employee rights and right as you land on their page you can see countless examples and their legality. If you have doubts or suspicions that you aren’t being treated according to law; just check the website and look at their specific examples to see if it fits the bill. Work should be both comfortable and fair, and if something is amiss then it likely isn’t legal.

Trust legal experts

Most of us have reservations against lawyers and courts. It makes perfect sense, going to court just has a gravitas that our daily life lacks. However, it’s important to understand that the law exists to protect us, not condemn us. Going to court is a right all citizens have and is the most reliable tool when it comes to defending our basic rights.

So if after looking at your situation you realize your rights aren’t being upheld, trust a lawyer with this. Countless attorneys are ready and willing to defend you. The system is here to help you, that’s why all these laws were made in the first place. So trust your gut and trust the legal experts, you deserve to see your rights being defended.