What Are My Rights as a Worker?

Every worker has the following rights regardless of immigration status:

Right to Be Paid Your Lawful Wages

• Right to be paid a minimum wage
• Right to be paid the wage rate that was promised, if higher than the minimum wage
• Right to be paid for all hours worked, including off-the-clock work
• Right to be paid on time
• Right to be paid overtime for hours worked over 40 hours per week (1.5 times your hourly wage rate)

Right to Organize with Your Coworkers

• Right to talk to coworkers about wages and working conditions
• Right to meet with coworkers and make a demand for better pay and working conditions

·Right to a Discrimination and Harassment-Free Workplace

• Right to not be harassed, or treated differently or less well, because of your race/color, nationality, ethnicity, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity

·Right to a Safe and Healthy Workplace

• Right to a workplace that is free of health and safety hazards
• Right to refuse to do work that might put you in danger

All immigrant workers have legal rights at work, including undocumented workers. Immigrant workers can file complaints in court or with government agencies.

Retaliation is Against the Law

It is illegal for your employer to fire you, give you worse shifts, refuse to pay you, or take other negative actions against you for exercising any of these rights.

Contact Us

If you are a low-wage worker who needs legal assistance with a workplace issue, or a community group supporting low-wage workers that is interested in a free workers’ rights training for your members and community, please contact AALDEF at 212-966-5932 or info@aaldef.org.

Click here to download a printable version of this Know Your Rights handout.