Oklahoma Employee Rights

Guide to Oklahoma Employee Rights

If you are an employee in the state of Oklahoma, you have many rights according to both federal and state laws. You need to know your OK employee rights so that you can understand when they have been violated. This guide will provide a basic overview of Oklahoma employee rights. For in-depth information on specific OK employee rights, you may want to consult with a labor and employment attorney in your area.

Minimum Wage

Most employees in the state have Oklahoma employee rights that entitle them to the federal minimum wage. Agricultural laborers and maids are exempt from these OK employee rights, but the vast majority of workers are entitled to a wage of at least $7.25 an hour. If you are an employee who makes most of your income with tips, you are only entitled by Oklahoma employee rights to a minimum wage of $3.63 an hour (half of what non-tipped employees make).

Personnel Files

In some states, employees have a right to view their personnel file, including information about compensation and promotions. OK employee rights do not include any rights pertaining to personnel file access. The only way Oklahoma employees may have a right to access their personnel files is if they have an employment agreement or a union contract that specifies this right.

Breaks

Many employees are shocked to discover that Oklahoma employee rights do not include rights for any type of rest or meal breaks, either paid or unpaid. The only employees who have OK employee rights to a meal break are employees under 16 years of age, who must be given a 30 minute unpaid meal break if they work a shift of 6 hours or longer.

The only breaks you are required to receive according to Oklahoma employee rights are bathroom breaks and breastfeeding breaks. OK employee rights for the disabled mean that you are entitled to sufficient bathroom breaks even if you have a medical condition that causes you to need more frequent trips to the bathroom than most other employees.

Discrimination and Harassment

Oklahoma employee rights include the right not to be discriminated against or harassed for your sex, religion, race, ethnicity, national origin, age (if you're over 40) or disability. If you are discriminated against at work or during the hiring process, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission may be able to give you legal advice about how to stand up for your OK employee rights.

Currently, Oklahoma employee rights do not include any anti-discrimination rights based on sexual orientation or preference. Employers within the state of Oklahoma may still discriminate on this basis without an employee necessarily having any recourse.

Time Off

No sick or vacation time is mandated by OK employee rights. The only employees who have a right to sick or vacation time are those whose union contracts or employee agreements specify these rights. Employers are required to provide up to six weeks of unpaid leave for medical issues according to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), but sick and vacation time are considered optional benefits that may be given at an employer's discretion.