Know Your Rights
Know your rights when faced with unsafe assignments, harassment, mandatory overtime, and other workplace issues. Learn how nurses have fought back and defended nurses' rights and workers' rights.
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Like other workers, nurses are afforded certain protections in the workplace by our federal, state, and local governments. Those laws sometimes change and NYSNA nurses are called to defend our rights. Learn more about your current rights as nurses, workers, union members, and non-union members.
Unsafe Assignments
We have an obligation to carry out the assignments we are given. But as patient advocates, we also have an obligation to report and try to correct unsafe assignments.
If Management Calls You Into The Office
Here are some tips to keep your cool and protect your rights if you get called into the office for discipline or an investigation.
Harassment
The union gives you a voice at work, but some managers don’t want to hear that voice — and they use harassment to try to silence you. The only sure solution is in our unity.
Mandatory Overtime
Before July 1, 2009, employers could and did force RNs to work excessive hours, which led to errors, complications, and less safe conditions for delivering patient care. NYSNA fought for and won a law to ban mandatory overtime for many nurses. In June 2023, the law was expanded.
Your Rights Under the Law
Whether you work for a public sector or private sector facility, you have the following rights under the law.
Your Right To Vote
Under New York State law, all voters registered to vote in New York State are entitled to sufficient leave time on Election Day, so that they are able to vote.
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