Working in the Diaspora

Know your employment rights!

Know the ins and outs of your visa

Read your job description thoroughly

Know the hierarchy within your workplace

Know all the benefits that your employer offers

Working within the realms of your Job description

My experience

When I first got employed in the UK, all I was glad about was that I had a job. I did not read the contract, I did not read the visa information, all I wanted to know was that I could bring my children from my home country and that I had a pay check at the end of the month. I even found myself going to work when I felt so unwell as I was afraid to lose the job and to lose the visa. Remember your employment rights are the same as those of any other employee. Do not be afraid to speak up. I am going to point some of the things I have since learnt with time as I have worked through the years.

Know your visa type and what it entails

The visa type can restrict you from doing any other work other than the one that is stated on your visa. Ensure you read all the information that is stated in the visa. Also make it your priority to read about it in the government website for the country you are settling in, don’t read from other independent websites Ensure you are also in the know of how to move to another Job and if your visa stipulates that you have to return to your home country before applying for another job.

Know the laws on employment

There will always be some employers who may end up exploiting you if they apply for your VISA or just pay for your application. They may end up holding you ransom. Find out the minimum wage, minimum hours you are allowed to work, the perks that an employer must offer you, i.e. sick pay, annual leave, holiday pay, companionate leave, carers leave, flexible working policy etc. Read your contract before you sign the dotted line and question any clauses that you do not understand.

Familiarise yourself with the Hierarchy within your employment

When you come from a place of lack, at times if anyone is older than you, you just give them respect and they can end up sending you around on the Job, however if you know the hierarchy, you will also be aware of who to also delegate to and who can delegate you work. Sometimes if you grow up in a colonial country you may have unconscious colonial mental slavery and feel that other races may be superior to you and you end up taking abuse without realising it. Respect everyone but learn to recognise exploitation and being taken advantage of.

Don’t work more than the hours you are rostered to do unless agreed in writing

Don’t work more than the hours your are rostered to do unless agreed in writing. This is because if anything happens to you while you are on the job, you may not be covered by the work insurance. Furthermore if something untoward happens to the client or systems while you are working outside of the agreed working hours, you may be accused of trespassing. Know where and when you can be within the work premises.

Working more hours can put you in danger of breaching your contract and the work insurance may not cover you.

I hope you find these few pointers helpful, if there are any other pointers of information you fell you may require, feel free to leave a comment in the comments section below