Oklahoma Employee Rights: Protecting the Rights of Oklahoma’s Workforce

The state of Oklahoma has enacted several laws that protect the rights of employees in the state. These laws cover a wide range of employment issues, from workplace safety to wage and hour laws. In this article, we will explore some of the key employee rights in Oklahoma, along with recent updates on the topic.

Oklahoma’s Minimum Wage Law

Oklahoma’s minimum wage law guarantees a minimum hourly wage for all employees in the state. The current minimum wage in Oklahoma is $7.25 per hour, which is the same as the federal minimum wage. However, several cities and counties in Oklahoma have enacted their own minimum wage laws, which may be higher than the state or federal minimum wage.

For example, in 2018, the city of Tulsa enacted a minimum wage law that raised the minimum wage for employees working within the city limits to $10.50 per hour. The law also included provisions for annual increases to the minimum wage.

Oklahoma’s minimum wage law also includes provisions for overtime pay. Employees who work more than 40 hours in a week are entitled to overtime pay at a rate of one and a half times their regular hourly wage.

Oklahoma Anti-Discrimination Laws

Oklahoma’s anti-discrimination laws prohibit employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, religion, or genetic information. Employers are also prohibited from retaliating against employees who oppose discrimination or who file a complaint about discrimination.

In addition to state laws, federal laws also protect employees from discrimination. These include Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.

The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission

The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) is a state agency that provides unemployment benefits and other services to workers in Oklahoma. The OESC also provides information and resources to employers on a variety of employment issues.

Unemployment Benefits

Unemployment benefits are available to eligible workers in Oklahoma who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. To be eligible for unemployment benefits, workers must have earned a certain amount of wages during their base period, which is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters.

The amount of unemployment benefits a worker can receive depends on the amount of wages they earned during their base period. The maximum weekly benefit amount in Oklahoma is $539, and workers can receive benefits for up to 26 weeks.

Workplace Safety and Workers’ Compensation

The Oklahoma Department of Labor is responsible for enforcing workplace safety regulations and administering the state’s workers’ compensation program. The workers’ compensation program provides benefits to employees who are injured or become ill as a result of their job.

Employers in Oklahoma are required to provide a safe and healthy workplace for their employees. They must comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and maintain a workplace free of recognized hazards. Employees have the right to file a complaint with OSHA if they believe their employer is violating workplace safety regulations.

Under Oklahoma’s workers’ compensation program, employees who are injured or become ill as a result of their job may be eligible for medical treatment, wage replacement, and other benefits. Employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance to cover these benefits.

Recent Updates on Oklahoma Employee Rights

In 2020, the Oklahoma Legislature passed several bills that impact employee rights in the state. Here are some of the key updates:

– HB 2759: This bill prohibits employers from taking adverse action against employees who decline a COVID-19 vaccine. The bill also prohibits employers from requiring employees to disclose their vaccination status.
– HB 2539: This bill allows certain employees to carry a handgun in the workplace if they have a concealed carry permit.
– HB 2597: This bill prohibits employers from requiring employees to sign noncompete agreements that would restrict their future employment opportunities.
– HB 2643: This bill expands the definition of “retaliation” in Oklahoma’s anti-discrimination laws to include adverse actions taken against employees who report hazardous working conditions or file a workers’ compensation claim.

Conclusion

Oklahoma’s laws and regulations offer a range of protections for workers in the state. From minimum wage and overtime laws to anti-discrimination protections, Oklahoma law helps ensure that employees are treated fairly and are able to work in safe and healthy conditions. As new laws and regulations are passed, workers and employers alike should stay up-to-date on changes that may impact their employment rights and responsibilities.

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.