# Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-3-106: Employees' rights and duties > Tennessee · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C3_S50-3-106 ## Section - **Citation:** Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-3-106 - **Heading:** Employees' rights and duties - **Jurisdiction:** Tennessee - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** TN Code / Title 50 / Chapter 3 / Section 50-3-106 ## Text Rights and duties of employees include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) Each employee shall comply with occupational safety and health standards and all rules, regulations and orders issued pursuant to this chapter that are applicable to the employee's own actions and conduct; (2) Each employee shall be notified by the employee's employer of any application for a temporary order granting the employer a variance from this chapter or standard or regulation promulgated pursuant to this chapter; (3) Each employee shall be given the opportunity to participate in any hearing that concerns an application by the employee's employer for a variance from a standard promulgated under this chapter; (4) Any employee who may be adversely affected by a standard or variance issued pursuant to this chapter may file a petition with the commissioner; (5) Any employee who has been exposed or is being exposed to toxic materials or harmful physical agents in concentrations or at levels in excess of that provided for by any applicable standard shall be provided by the employee's employer with the opportunities provided in § 50-3-203 ; (6) Subject to regulations issued pursuant to this chapter, any employee or authorized representative of employees shall be given the right to request an inspection and to consult with the commissioner at the time of the physical inspection of any workplace, as provided in part 3 of this chapter; (7) No employee shall be discharged or discriminated against because the employee has filed a complaint, instituted, or caused to be instituted a proceeding or inspection under or related to this chapter, or testified, or is about to testify, in a proceeding or because of the exercise by the employee on behalf of the employee or others of any right afforded by this chapter; (8) Any employee who believes that the employee has been discriminated against or discharged in violation of subdivision (7) may, within thirty (30) days after the violation occurs, file a complaint with the commissioner alleging the discrimination. The commissioner shall act promptly on the complaint to determine whether to seek imposition of the sanction provided in § 50-3-409 ; (9) Any employee or representative of employees who believes that any period of time fixed in the citation given to the employee's employer by the commissioner for correction of a violation is unreasonable has the right to contest the time for correction by filing a notice with the commissioner within twenty (20) days of the date the citation was issued; (10) Nothing in this chapter or this section shall be deemed to authorize or require medical examination, immunization or treatment for those who object to the medical examination, immunization or treatment on religious grounds, except where the medical examination, immunization or treatment is necessary for the protection of the health or safety of others; and (11) Any affected employee shall be notified by the employee's employer and shall be given the opportunity to participate in negotiations on alleged violations of occupational safety and health standards. Acts 1972, ch. 561, § 5; 1974, ch. 585, § 8; 1977, ch. 111, § 4; T.C.A., § 50-506; Acts 1986, ch. 844, § 3; 1999, ch. 520, § 41. Rights and duties of employees include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) Each employee shall comply with occupational safety and health standards and all rules, regulations and orders issued pursuant to this chapter that are applicable to the employee's own actions and conduct; (2) Each employee shall be notified by the employee's employer of any application for a temporary order granting the employer a variance from this chapter or standard or regulation promulgated pursuant to this chapter; (3) Each employee shall be given the opportunity to participate in any hearing that concerns an application by the employee's employer for a variance from a standard promulgated under this chapter; e shall be notified by the employee's employer of any application for a temporary order granting the employer a variance from this chapter or standard or regulation promulgated pursuant to this chapter; (3) Each employee shall be given the opportunity to participate in any hearing that concerns an application by the employee's employer for a variance from a standard promulgated under this chapter; (4) Any employee who may be adversely affected by a standard or variance issued pursuant to this chapter may file a petition with the commissioner; (5) Any employee who has been exposed or is being exposed to toxic materials or harmful physical agents in concentrations or at levels in excess of that provided for by any applicable standard shall be provided by the employee's employer with the opportunities provided in § 50-3-203 ; (6) Subject to regulations issued pursuant to this chapter, any employee or authorized representative of employees shall be given the right to request an inspection and to consult with the commissioner at the time of the physical inspection of any workplace, as provided in part 3 of this chapter; (7) No employee shall be discharged or discriminated against because the employee has filed a complaint, instituted, or caused to be instituted a proceeding or inspection under or related to this chapter, or testified, or is about to testify, in a proceeding or because of the exercise by the employee on behalf of the employee or others of any right afforded by this chapter; (8) Any employee who believes that the employee has been discriminated against or discharged in violation of subdivision (7) may, within thirty (30) days after the violation occurs, file a complaint with the commissioner alleging the discrimination. The commissioner shall act promptly on the complaint to determine whether to seek imposition of the sanction provided in § 50-3-409 ; (9) Any employee or representative of employees who believes that any period of time fixed in the citation given to the employee's employer by the commissioner for correction of a violation is unreasonable has the right to contest the time for correction by filing a notice with the commissioner within twenty (20) days of the date the citation was issued; (10) Nothing in this chapter or this section shall be deemed to authorize or require medical examination, immunization or treatment for those who object to the medical examination, immunization or treatment on religious grounds, except where the medical examination, immunization or treatment is necessary for the protection of the health or safety of others; and (11) Any affected employee shall be notified by the employee's employer and shall be given the opportunity to participate in negotiations on alleged violations of occupational safety and health standards. Acts 1972, ch. 561, § 5; 1974, ch. 585, § 8; 1977, ch. 111, § 4; T.C.A., § 50-506; Acts 1986, ch. 844, § 3; 1999, ch. 520, § 41. ## Nearby sections - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-3-101 Short title](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C3_S50-3-101.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-3-102 Purpose](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C3_S50-3-102.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-3-103 Chapter definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C3_S50-3-103.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-3-104 Scope of chapter](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C3_S50-3-104.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-3-105 Employers' rights and duties](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C3_S50-3-105.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-3-106 Employees' rights and duties](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C3_S50-3-106.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-3-107 Unpaid fines and penalties - Interest - Additional penalties for late payment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C3_S50-3-107.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-3-108 Full payment required except in case of compromise and settlement](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C3_S50-3-108.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-3-109 Local governmental entities prohibited from mandating certain disclosures in contracts for improvements to real property](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C3_S50-3-109.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-3-201 Regulations authorized](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C3_S50-3-201.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-3-202 Criteria for standards](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C3_S50-3-202.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-3-203 Protective measures](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C3_S50-3-203.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-3-204 Advisory committee](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C3_S50-3-204.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-3-301 Inspections authorized](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C3_S50-3-301.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C3_S50-3-106. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.