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A smart employee is an informed employee. Before you begin any new job, know the applicable employment laws in your State/Province/City and Country. While most jobs places prove to be uneventful, a pro-active informed approach is always best. The best way to ensure employer exploitation never occurs is to advise your new employer on your first day of work that you have acquainted yourself with all relevant employer/employee laws.

Exploitation by an employer can exist on a variety of levels and all exploitation is abuse and may even be illegal. Whether it is financial, emotional/psychological or even physical, left unchecked exploitation can leave serious psychological issues that carry over into the next work place.

Financial exploitation includes such things as not paying you the hourly rate or salary that was promised at the hiring, suddenly changing your salary to a lesser amount without warning, or withholding commissions and bonuses. Insisting that all terms of employment be put in writing before you begin your first day of work is a good way to combat cheapskate bosses. If you have everything in writing, and your boss begins to hedge on paying you your due, first take it up with the company Manager or CEO. Make sure you print and document everything and keep copies at home!

Perhaps the most soul destroying form of exploitation by an Employer is the emotional or psychological abuse encountered on the job. Employers', who practice this, typically seek to break an employee down into total submission to their own hidden workplace agenda's. You may begin a job where your employer initially values and commends your work, then suddenly belittles your work efforts, you are being exploited. If you find yourself in this position, immediately approach your employer, (in front of other employee's if at all possible), and try the following approach:

Mr/Ms. Jones, it appears the way you instructed me to prepare reports (or whatever the case may be) is no longer acceptable. Please leave me new detailed WRITTEN instructions on how you would like them done on my desk in the next half hour. Until that time, I will be taking a break'. I actually did this once. My emotionally abusive employer was so flabbergasted, that when I came back from my break her post it note on my desk read, Carry on as before and thank you for your hard work'. Needless to say she never tried to emotionally abuse me again, or break down my confidence psychologically.

Physical exploitation or abuse exists in two forms, both of which are illegal. The first form of physical exploitation from an employer begins when they take away lunch or bathroom privileges and keep you past finishing time without opportunity for a break. While we all occasionally have to work late, most employers do both financially compensate their employee's and explain the reasons for the extra work.

The second form of physical exploitation comes in the forms of physical and sexual abuse. Any employer who physical assaults you, or tries to extract sexual favor's from you in exchange for better work conditions is breaking the law. If you should find yourself in this situation, telephone the police immediately. It doesn't matter if the whole office comes to a stand still. Don't wait! Any employer who subsequently tries to withhold a paycheck or a written reference will find themselves in further breach of employment laws, so never be afraid to report abuse.

Learn more about this author, Melissa D. Ing.
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