Beginning a New Job Part One: Your first day Part Two: What to expect from your employer

Part One How to survive your first day on the job…

 Be on time! Know how long it will take you to get to work.  Being late your first day will not make a good impression. Wake up at least fifteen minutes earlier.  This will give you extra time in case of unexpected things such as traffic, etc.

 Dress Appropriately! Avoid anything too bold (such as bright colors or trendy items) Wear simple jewelry Avoid worn out clothes with holes, etc. Ask about the dress code ahead of time.

 Be observant! Observe Company Culture  Pay attention to the behavior, attitudes, and habits of the other employees. Orientation  Introduces you to company policies, procedures, values, and benefits.  Tour of the company  Meet coworkers Mentors  Informal guides who help new employees adjust to the workplace  Provide guidance and advice.  Someone to ask questions

 Learn Policies & Procedures Find out what is expected of you.  What are your hours?  What are your responsibilities?  To whom do you report? Know what your benefits are.  When will you be paid and how? Physical check? Cash? Direct deposit?  What is the consequence for being late?  How many paid sick days will you get per year?  How much vacation time will you get?  What is the procedure for requesting time off?  What paid holidays do you get?  When will you be eligible for a raise and how is it determined? Ask for a company handbook.

 Think about it… What do you think would be the difference in dress code and company culture between the following types of workplaces:  Working in a fitness center  Working in a bank or credit union  Working in a doctor’s office  Working in a warehouse

 Journal Response #13 You’ve just started a new job as a veterinary assistant. Because your last job was at an animal hospital, the veterinarian assumes you know how to perform various procedures on animals, such as taking a pet’s temperature and administering shots. You were actually just a receptionist, but you’ve seen these procedures often enough that you feel you could probably do them on your own. Do you tell the vet the truth – that you haven’t actually done these before? Or do you try it first and see how it goes? What might be the result of either of these actions? Explain in detail.

Part Two What can you expect from your new employer?

 Salary Salary Employees  Paid a fixed amount per month or year  Do not usually “clock-in”  Do not receive overtime pay Hourly Employees  Paid a fixed amount for each hour worked.  Usually must “clock-in” Overtime Pay  Usually time and one-half  Paid for each hour worked over 40/week  Regulated by the federal government Commission  Applies to sales positions  Paid based on amount of sales

 Benefits These are various extras not required by law but offered by most companies. Some standard benefits include:  Healthcare The company pays some or most of the health plan premium.  Retirement Plan Some companies will contribute or match the employees contributions  Vacation Usually 1-2 weeks per year; sometimes increases the longer you work there  Sick Leave Usually 3-5 days per year

 Fair & Equal Treatment You have the right to be treated fairly by your employer, which means…  Receiving the pay initially agreed upon  Receiving all benefits agreed upon  Being treated with fairness and respect by all supervisors and coworkers If you feel you have been treated unfairly…  Discuss with a supervisor  Discuss with a human resource personnel  Report to the department of labor

 Evaluations Evaluations are periodic reviews of job performance. They can determine…  Pay Raises Many companies base pay increases upon evaluations between employee and supervisor.  Probation If you are not performing up to standard, you may be placed on probation, which means you are given a set amount of time to get back on track. Some companies start a new employee out on probation to make sure he/she is a good fit.

 Losing Your Job Layoff  A “layoff” refers to losing your position due to reasons other than poor job performance.  Employees who are “laid off” may be rehired in the future.  Many companies offer severance pay (a payment allowance based on length of employment). Fired  Being fired or terminated is losing your job because of poor job performance  Your employer should have a clear policy for handling termination.

 Journal Response #14 You and your friend just started a new job at the same company. The human resource department conducts random drug testing. Your friend was picked but you weren’t. He/she tells you that there is reason to believe that he/she will not pass and asks you to take the test for him/her, saying that since it is such a large company, no one will notice. Do you take the test for your friend? Why or why not?