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Proof of a pregnancy, miscarriage, abortion or tubectomy operation is necessary if you want to claim maternity benefits. You can prove the fact that you are pregnant, had a miscarriage, abortion, tubectomy operation or suffered an illness arising out of these procedures if you produce a certificate to that effect from any of the following1:Read more

An employer has the duty to pay maternity benefit even in case the woman dies as a result of the pregnancy. If the woman dies before receiving the maternity benefit or amount, the employer shall pay the amount to the person nominated by the woman in the notice given by her.  1 The amount payableRead more

If your employer has withheld any payment or maternity benefit from you or has dismissed you on account of your maternity leave, then you can approach the following authorities: Inspector You can approach the inspector to make a complaint. The inspector may make an inquiry on his own or after receiving a complaint, and passRead more

You cannot be dismissed or fired by your employer during or due to your maternity leave. 1 Keep in mind: During your maternity leave, your employer cannot change your condition of work to your disadvantage. For example, your employer cannot demote you at work just because you took maternity leave. If you are fired orRead more

Other than the maternity pay and leave, women are entitled to other benefits. These benefits such as nursing breaks and creche facilities allow women to make an easier transition back into work after their maternity leave. Nursing breaks If you return to work after your delivery, you can take 2 breaks of 15 minutes eachRead more

The employer must pay you your maternity benefit before your delivery. 1 For this, you have to give your employer a written notice to state your claim to the maternity benefit. Given below  is a checklist of information that should be in the notice: You have to state that you will not work for anyRead more

Employers have to pay women for the period during which they are absent from work as a result of their pregnancy. This is known as a maternity benefit. 1 An employer has to pay you for a period starting from the day of your delivery to six weeks afterwards. This period also includes the dayRead more

Employers are people appointed by the government or the local authorities to supervise and control the employees of an organization. These employers have ultimate control over the establishment. 1 If no person is appointed as the employer, then the head of the department or the chief executive officer of the local authority will be consideredRead more

The Maternity Benefit Act will apply to you if you work in any of the following workplaces: Any establishment such as a factory, mine or plantation, including government establishments 1 Establishments employing people for the exhibition of equestrian, acrobatic and other performances 1 Shops or establishments employing  10 or more people and which is coveredRead more

You are entitled to leave from work when you are having a child. However, this differs based on certain circumstances: If you are pregnant for the first time or you already have one child You can claim a maximum of 26 weeks of leave if you are pregnant for the first time or if youRead more

You can seek maternity benefits if you are a woman and if you are: Pregnant for the first time Pregnant with one child or 2 children already Adopting a child below the age of 3 months 1 Having a child through a surrogate 2 Recovering from a miscarriage, abortion or tubectomy operation You can enjoyRead more

Noise pollution is largely a by-product of industrialisation, urbanisation and modern civilisation. Noise pollution has two sources1 i.e. industrial and non-industrial. The industrial source includes the noise from various industries and big machines working at a very high speed and high noise intensity. Non-industrial source of noise includes the noise created by transport/vehicular traffic andRead more

Noise can disturb our work, rest, sleep, and communication. It can damage our hearing and evoke other psychological, and possibly pathological reactions. Given below are some of the adverse health effects of noise pollution:1 Hearing Loss Hearing loss can be either temporary or permanent. Noise-induced temporary threshold shift (NITTS) is a temporary loss of hearingRead more

Loudspeakers and public address systems are a common source of noise pollution in India. To play loudspeakers, public address systems, amplifiers or other equipments you need written permission from local authorities. 1 The police and local government authorities will seize and confiscate such equipment if it causes noise. 2 The noise level where loudspeaker orRead more

Vehicles are a common source of noise pollution in India. You can be fined1 if you misuse your vehicle horn by sounding the horn: In a silent zone2 Needlessly or continuously in a manner which is more than necessary to ensure your or others’ safety During night time (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.) in residentialRead more

If any noise is being made which causes you annoyance, discomfort or any injury, then you can file a complaint with the authorities given below. You can also complain if you know that the noise1 level has exceeded the noise standards by 10 dB(A) in any area or there is noise pollution that happens atRead more

Causing noise pollution is a punishable offence under the law. The punishment is: Causing Public Nuisance Creating noise is considered to be a public nuisance when you cause any injury, danger or annoyance to the public. 1 For example, if your neighbour plays a sound system at midnight very loudly, then this is a publicRead more

Every State Government categorizes areas into the following zones, to which specific zone-wise noise standards/limits apply: Industrial Commercial Residential Silence areas/zones Development authorities, local bodies and other authorities while planning a developmental activity or carrying out functions relating to town/country planning have the responsibility to avoid noise menace and maintain noise standards/limits.1 For example, theRead more

An area comprising not less than 100 meters around hospitals, educational institutions and courts are known as silence areas or silence zones.1 In a silent zone you cannot2: Use a public address system Play any music Raise any sound amplifiers Beat a drum or tom-tom Blow a musical or pressure horn, or trumpet or PlayRead more

Noise is common in everyday life, but when it goes above a certain limit, it is considered to be pollution1 as well as a public nuisance1. Noise at such levels may be injurious to human beings, living creatures, plants, property and the environment2 The law known as the Noise Pollution (Regulation And Control) Rules, 2000Read more

For Violation of Contract If there has been an instance of violation of your work contract, your only remedy is to go to court or arbitration. If your office has a trade union, you can approach them. For Grievance Against Employer If there is a grievance between you and your employer, usually the method ofRead more

What is Notice Period? When you decide to terminate your employment, you are required to let the employer know by giving them advance notice of your intention to leave. This is called the notice period. How Long is a Notice Period? The notice period will be given in your employment contract. The average notice periodRead more

If your employer fires you from the job, it may either be according to the notice period or any other terms given in your contract. Your employer may terminate your job if: Employment-Related Disputes Your performance is not good. You were involved in any criminal activities such as insider trading. You have breached any HRRead more

There may be restrictive terms mentioned in your contract. In India, you have a fundamental right to practice any trade, profession or conduct any business. However, this is not an unlimited freedom. You will find certain clauses or terms in your agreement that in some way restrict you to a certain degree from carrying onRead more

All contracts start with the description of who you are, your role in the organization and details of your job. This is an example of how the first term of your employment contract would look like: “XYZ Future Ltd. (“XYZ”), is hiring Abhinav Chandra as “Lead Architect” for a period of 12 months with effectRead more

What is Confidentiality? The organization or company you are employed with has a right to protect its trade secrets and other confidential business dealings. Hence, a clause in your employment contract restricts you from sharing or disclosing any confidential information of the employer to anyone outside the organization. This clause is known as a confidentialityRead more

A non-compete clause in an employment contract restricts a current employee from competing with their employer in the same or similar area of business as the employer. Typically, this restriction is not limited only to the duration of employment but also for a specified period after the employment is terminated or concluded. Some examples are:Read more

Poaching of Co-Workers If there is a non-solicitation clause in your agreement, you cannot enlist other employees of the company in a business, trade, or profession that would harm the interest of the company. This restriction applies to you both while in the employment of the company and after you have left. For example, ifRead more

What are Training Bonds? In some cases, an employer may make you sign a training bond. According to the terms of this bond, you will have to work for that company for a specified period of time. You cannot terminate the employment before the required period is over. If you do, you will have toRead more

In order to safeguard all your rights as an employee, you should make sure: You have a written employment contract. It is easier to resolve any disagreements or disputes if you have all the terms in writing. You have read all the terms mentioned in your contract. You are legally bound to comply with theRead more

You will get a written employment contract only after you accept the job offer. The written contract will include all the details of the offer letter and more details provided by the employer. With a written contract you can exert the rights given to you under the contract. Further, you are bound by the dutiesRead more

Before you are appointed, employers may ask you to submit some documents to check whether you are eligible for the job. Some of them are: Documents from Old Employer Relieving Letter (if applicable) Your employer may ask you to get a signed document from your previous employer stating that you are no longer associated withRead more

Acceptance Only After Negotiations Make sure that you finish all your negotiations for any change in the offer and only then accept the job. This is because once you accept the offer, your employer will think that you are accepting all the terms in the offer without any problem. Writing an Acceptance Letter While accepting a jobRead more

When an employer is willing to hire you and gives you a job offer, they must: Communicate to you about the offer Specify the job role and the terms of the job Offer some remuneration/salary/benefits in return for your work Communication of the Offer An employer has to communicate the willingness to hire you through a jobRead more

The terms of your employment contract will capture facts, rights, duties, and obligations that relate to you and your employer. These terms are based on your calibre, your expectations, your employer’s expectations, and industry standards. The terms are described with heavy legal terminology such as “non-compete”, “dispute resolution” etc. It is important for you toRead more