Your rights at work

What to know

1. Minimum wage: the federal minimum is $7.25 an hour. Many states set a higher one, and when both apply you get the higher rate.
2. Overtime: covered nonexempt employees get at least one and a half times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. Your workweek is a fixed seven-day period, and hours can't be averaged across two weeks.
3. Weekends and nights: federal law doesn't require extra pay for weekend or night work, or double time. That's up to your employer or your contract.
4. Breaks: federal law doesn't require lunch or coffee breaks. But if your employer gives short breaks of about 5 to 20 minutes, they count as paid work time.
5. Safety: your employer must keep the workplace free from known hazards, train you in a language you understand, give you safe machines and required safety gear like gloves or a harness, and protect you from toxic chemicals. You can report an injury and get copies of your medical records.
6. Speaking up: you can report safety concerns without being punished. If you can, tell your employer first; they may fix it quickly.
7. Discrimination: federal laws prohibit firing and other job discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability and veteran status. To file a charge with the EEOC, start at the EEOC Public Portal or call 1-800-669-4000.
8. Keep your own record of hours. Employers must keep time and pay records, but your notes and pay stubs are your evidence if there's a dispute.