Workers’ Rights and Responsibilities: Navigating Regulations in Industry

published Apr 22, 2024
1 min read

As well as making that your manufacturing or construction business is as green as possible, you should also prioritise the welfare of your staff. Otherwise, your attempts to stay green will all be for nothing.

Then, here are some of the most important workers’ rights and regulations that you will need to navigate to ensure that your HR strategy succeeds and that you can create an ethical business.

1.   Accommodation

When you’re working on a green project, or if you’re trying to make your company as green as possible, it’s important that you get the right accommodation for your team. Otherwise, you might find that they’re unhappy and that their welfare suffers. It will also ensure that you can keep the best team members on your payroll and that they will feel valued. This means that you should look around for excellent worker accommodation in your area that can keep your workers safe and healthy during the working week and on their days off.

For instance, you might look at contractor accommodation by Comfy Workers. This will allow you to have your pick of the best housing nearby and effortlessly sort out places for your employees to stay. However, when you’re looking for this accommodation, you might try to find places that are eco-friendly and use sustainable practices.

2.   Health and Safety

However, the most important rules and regulations that you need to follow for your team members are those that are associated with health and safety. Health and safety regulations will help to keep you on the right side of the law and will ensure that you don’t find yourself being sued by injured staff members. Not only this, but a good approach to health and safety will enable your employees to thrive and come to work without fear of being harmed.

For instance, you should regularly check your equipment for faults and make sure that your team is trained to use all your tools. You should provide PPE for unsafe environments and try to minimise the pollution that your staff are exposed to, such as by installing air vents and purifiers. You might also consider placing warning signs in dangerous areas and giving your team the right amount of rest breaks.

Some of these health and safety regulations could even make your building eco-friendlier, such as purifying the air and reducing the amount of toxic gases that you release.

3.   Holiday and Sick Pay

As with any industry, it’s vital that you give your employees holiday pay and sick pay, or else you might find that your team members burn out. Not only is it illegal for you not to give your employees time off, but holiday and sick pay can ensure that your team members return to work refreshed and don’t spread illnesses around your workplace. They might even use their holiday leave to hone their skills in a way that eventually has a benefit for you.

4.   A Good Wage

You should also always make sure that your employees are given a good wage. This will allow you to give a good quality of life to your employees as well as ensure that your business is eco-friendly.

As well as checking your wage is over the minimum wage for your employees’ age groups, you should also try to give them a generous rate of pay and bonuses that can help to motivate your staff and will mean that they don’t get drawn in by your less sustainable competitors.