Employees in Oregon are protected under both federal and state laws from discrimination and harassment at work based on factors such as race, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, and many more characteristics. Furthermore, an employer may not discipline, demote, discharge, or otherwise retaliate against any employee who complains of unlawful discrimination or harassment. Most employees and employers have sufficient knowledge of employment discrimination laws to be able recognize a violation of these laws. However, there are other civil rights that Oregon employees have of which they may not be readily aware.
Some of these lesser known rights of employees include:
-The right to express opposition to or report unsafe health or safety conditions at work.
-The right to fulfill legal duties, such as jury duty.
-The right to have a juvenile record expunged and its contents kept secret from employers or potential employers.
-The right to be free from random or unnecessary polygraph, blood alcohol, or other tests (except for certain industries).
-The right to be free from genetic screening, brain wave tests, or other medical tests.
-The right to exercise legal and constitutional rights, such as free speech, free practice of religion, voting, etc.
-The right to consume lawful tobacco products or participate in other legal activities during non-work hours.
-The right to take leave for volunteer firefighter activity.
-The right to take leave for organized military activity and service.
-The right to privacy of usernames, passwords, and content for social media sites and profiles.
-The right to be reimbursed for any medical examinations that are a condition of continued employment.
-The right to take leave for family or medical reasons.
-The right to take leave to donate bone marrow.
-The right of access to employer provided or owned housing facilities.
-The right to oppose or report violations of health care regulations in nursing homes or related facilities.
-The right for members of legislative assembly to take leave for related legislative activities.
-The right to give legislative testimony.
-The right to provide testimony at unemployment hearings.
-The right to protections for whistleblowing, including reporting unlawful activity, discrimination or harassment, health and safety violations, defrauding the government, etc.
-The right to report criminal activity of the employer or fellow employees.
-The right for nurses and staff to be free from retaliation for reporting hospital health and safety violations or patient mistreatment.
-The right to hold an academic degree in theology or participate in a religious occupation.
If you are an employee and believe that any of your civil rights have been violated, you deserve proper protection and compensation for any hardship you have suffered as a result. It is important that you consult with an employment law attorney to discuss a possible case as soon as possible. Do not hesitate to call HKM to schedule a consultation.
