If something feels off at work and you don’t know where to start, start here.
This page explains how workplace rights are layered, what controls when there’s a conflict, and where to go next depending on what you’re dealing with.
You do not need to know everything. You just need to know where to look.
HOW WORKPLACE RULES ACTUALLY WORK
Your rights at work come from multiple places. They do not all carry the same weight.
From strongest to weakest:
Federal and state law
Union contract
University policy
Department-created rules
If a lower level conflicts with a higher one, the higher level controls.
A department rule does not override the contract.
A policy does not override the law.
WHAT THIS SITE IS (AND IS NOT)
This site is a practical reference designed to help employees:
Understand their rights
Avoid misinformation
Find the correct office or resource
Protect themselves through knowledge and documentation
This site is not legal advice and does not replace official processes. It exists to help you ask better questions and get to the right place faster.
WHERE TO GO BASED ON WHAT’S HAPPENING
If you’re dealing with time off, call-outs, or attendance issues, go to:
FML & Attendance
If you want to understand what the union contract actually says, go to:
Know Your Contract
If you’re dealing with legal protections like ADA, FEHA, retaliation, or medical privacy, go to:
Know Your Rights
If something feels unfair, inconsistent, or suddenly changed, go to:
When Something Goes Wrong
If you need phone numbers, links, systems, or offices, go to:
Resources
If you were injured at work or need medical care related to work, go to:
Work Comp
WHEN YOU FEEL PRESSURED OR CONFUSED
Pressure, urgency, and vague explanations are common when something isn’t being handled correctly.
You are allowed to:
Ask for clarification
Ask for things in writing
Take time to understand what’s being asked
Document interactions
Confusion does not mean you are wrong.
A NOTE ABOUT DOCUMENTATION
Documentation is not confrontation.
Writing down dates, instructions, and responses protects accuracy and memory. You do not need permission to document.
You also do not need to announce that you are documenting.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO THIS ALONE
Most problems escalate because people don’t know where to go or are told incorrect information.
Understanding the basics helps you protect yourself — even if you never file a complaint.
FINAL REMINDER
If you’re overwhelmed, start with Resources or FML & Attendance.
If something doesn’t make sense, that’s usually a signal — not a failure on your part.
EVS LIVES MATTER 