When you accept a job offer, you do so with the idea that the terms and conditions in your employment contract will be adhered to.
There may come a point during your employment when you realize that your employer is making decisions in the face of what’s included in this contract. Should that happen, you should closely review the details in question, create a game plan and take action to get to the bottom of the problem.
Here are some more specific steps to take:
- Review the contract to double check for accuracy: Don’t assume that your employer did something wrong and then confront them. Take a step back, review the details of your contract and then decide what’s gone wrong.
- Express your concerns: With your employment contract in hand, express your concerns to your supervisor and/or HR department. Show them what you agreed to, while explaining where they’ve come up short. Maybe they offer to fix the issue on the spot. Maybe they offer to investigate. Perhaps they shrug it off and tell you there’s nothing they can do about it.
- Follow up: Don’t let your employer get away with violating the terms of your contract. Follow up until you have a clear idea of the steps they’re taking to make things right. And if they’re not taking any steps at all, it’s time to learn more about your legal rights.
If you don’t get any satisfaction, filing a legal claim against your employer is the last resort. It’s your hope that doing so will put you in a position of power, thus allowing you to get what’s owed to you.
As you take the above steps, you must also consider that your employer could take some type of action against you, such as a demotion or termination. They may do this in an attempt to cover up their wrongdoing.
Once again, should this happen, learn more about your legal rights and fight back.
You hope your employer treats you right the entire time you’re at the company, but don’t assume that this will true. And definitely don’t let them take advantage of you.