Most people with normal jobs and ordinary lives are unaware of their rights. The surprise comes when, after enduring too many grievances, you finally consult a lawyer and discover how many rights have been violated by those who were supposed to protect you. Managers are meant to take care of their teams, and general managers should ensure that managers fulfill that role. But reality often works differently.

Abuse is a common practice in companies. It happens in small, subtle ways, making it hard to notice until the damage is done. The system is designed to make you believe that certain behaviors are normal. The only way to protect yourself is to know your rights and demand that they be respected. No one is going to take care of you if you don’t do it yourself first.