Employment Laws That May Protect You as a Seasonal Farm Worker

Every year, farmers hore temporary seasonal workers to help them with the many jobs they have to complete. As a seasonal farm employee, you do still have certain rights. Here is a look at some of the rights you have when you work on a farm as a seasonal worker. 

1. You have the right to be paid for the hours you work on the job. 

As a farmworker, your hours may vary from day to day, and you may not have a time clock or an electronic unit that tracks how long you are on the job. Therefore, it is important that you keep track of how many hours you work daily, and ensure the farmer you are working for is doing the same.

If you get to payday and the farmer is not paying you for all of your hours worked, it is best to bring out your records to show them how many hours you have spent on the job. If the farmer refuses to pay you for your time, it may be wise to speak to an employment lawyer for advice. 

2. You have a right to safe working conditions.

Even though farmwork can involve numerous settings, types of equipment, and situations, efforts should be taken by the farmer to ensure every work scenario is as safe as possible. For example, if you will be spending your workday in a field on a hot day, you should have access to ample water to stay hydrated to prevent overheating.

If the farmer you are working for is not making sure you have water available, be sure to let them know you need access to cool water to stay safe on the job. If the farmer refuses to supply what is needed to make sure the work setting is safe and you are injured, reach out to an employment lawyer to find out what you can do. 

3. You have a right to be paid the minimum wage. 

The federal minimum wage sets forth the standard by which workers should be compensated. Although some exemptions can apply, farmworkers are also usually entitled to be paid minimum wage. Some exemptions include if you are an immediate family member of the employer or if you are performing certain types of work. Take a look at the exemptions to make sure they do not apply to you. If they don't and you are not being paid adequately, it may be a good idea to talk to an attorney to find out more about your compensation rights.