1. Chapter 6 Notes You, Your Employer and Your Co-Workers
Copy the following Terms –
Attitude –Your way of looking at the world and people in it.
Initiative – Doing what needs to be done without being told to do it.
Wages –Pay received for hourly work
Salary – A fixed amount of pay for a certain period of time, usually a year or a month.
Commission – A payment or bonus paid to an employee on an amount sold.
You, Your Employer and Your Co-Workers

2. Terms continued … Co-Op 501/601
Discrimination – Treating someone unfairly because of prejudice, based on factors such as race, religion, gender, age, or disability.
Termination notice –A statement from your employer that you have been dismissed from your job
Layoff notice –a statement from your employer that your period of employment is over, usually only temporary.
Severance pay – A check equal to one, two, or several weeks pay given to you when you are laid off.
Unemployment compensation - (EI) – Money given to people who have recently become unemployed and who are both able to work and actively seeking jobs
Terms continued …

3. What Your Employer Expects Of You
Your employer will pay you regularly, but in return they will expect certain things from you. Your success on the job will depend on how well you meet their expectations. . Your employer will expect you to display the following qualities:
positive attitude
cooperativeness
honesty
initiative
willingness to learn
willingness to follow directions
dependability
enthusiasm
ability to accept criticism
loyalty

4. Positive Attitude
This is perhaps the most important factor towards success on the job. Your attitude is your basic outlook on life. Attitudes are generally classified into two types - positive and negative. People who are positive tend to be optimistic, cheerful and out-going. They usually get along well with other people.
People who are negative often complain a great deal, they are angry and withdrawn. They are unhappy most of the time and do not seem to like other people.

5. Positive Attitude cont…
If you have a negative attitude then people will respond negatively to you, if you are positive they will respond positively to you. The main reason young people lose their jobs is because they don't get along well with other people. One study showed that 82% of young workers lost their jobs because of this.
If you have a positive attitude you are well on your way to job success! If you tend to be on the negative side, you'll be happy to know you can change it. You can work at becoming the kind of person who likes others. The sooner you start the better.

6. Positive and Negative Attitudes Compared
Positive Attitudes:
smiles easily
willing to change ideas and behaviour
can see another person's point of view
rarely complains
accepts responsibility for mistakes
seldom criticizes others
looks people in the eye when talking to them
never makes excuses
has a variety of interests

7. Positive and Negative Attitudes compared
rarely smiles
unwilling to change
can't see another person's point of view
complains about nearly everything
blames others for their own mistakes
thinks only of self
very critical of others
forces own opinion on others
has few interests
often makes excuses
Do Assignment 6:1 – An Attitude Inventory

8. Cooperativeness
This means working well with others to reach a common goal.
You can show willingness to cooperate in many ways. One way is to do tasks you don't like to do without complaining or trying to get someone else to do it for you.
Too many people have the attitude that each worker is responsible for only his or her own job. These people resent being asked to help others.
Don't make this mistake! Instead pitch in when a co-worker needs help, or is falling behind. You will be remembered for it.

9. Be an honest worker, you will have a much better chance at success!
Honesty
Employers expect their workers to be honest with them, but some are not. The most common type of dishonesty is stealing time. Your time during working hours does not belong to you. It belongs to your employer. Some of the common ways of stealing time are: arriving a few minutes late every day, taking longer breaks and lunches then they are supposed to, or by stopping the workday early. If your work hours are eight to five, then arrive a few minutes before eight. Stealing time costs companies money, that can add up over time.
Be an honest worker, you will have a much better chance at success!

10. Honesty
Another type of dishonesty is stealing company property. Many workers have been fired for stealing materials and tools that belonged to their employers. For example, one young man continually used office postage stamps for his own personal letters. He was not fired, but when it came time to select a new office manager, he was passed over for the job.

11. Remember if you never do more than you get paid for, you will never get paid any more.

12. Initiative
Suppose you have completed your job and no one has told you what to do next. What would you do? Would you just sit around and wait, or would you find something that needs to be done and do it?
Most employers expect their employees to take some initiative. Taking initiative means doing what needs to done, without being asked to do it. You must use good judgement when taking initiative.
Do not attempt to do work that you are not qualified to do. This is a safety hazard and may end up getting you into trouble.

13. Willingness to Learn
Employers expect their workers to learn the way things are done in the company. Learning methods is not usually a problem for workers.
Make a special effort to learn everything you can about your job and company.
The more skills and knowledge you have the better.
Most workers who are promoted have taken the time to learn more than just their own tasks.

14. Willingness to Follow Directions
When you are given directions on how to do something, you are expected to follow them. That is why directions are given. You may not understand why you are asked to do things a certain way, but you employer has asked for a reason. Do things as you are told. After you have worked on a job for a while, you can make suggestions, if you think your ideas will be well received.

15. Dependability
Employers expect their workers to be on the job everyday and to be there on time. Employees who come to work late can be fired. Even if they aren't fired, they tend to be resented by workers who are always on time.
If you are ill and can’t go to work, call your employer or the person in charge. Say that you will be absent and explain why.
It is very important to call as soon as you know you can’t go to work. Many workers have lost their job because they did not call to report an absence. Don't miss work unless you must.
Be at work on time and complete your full shift.
Your employer will notice that you are dependable and can be counted on.

16. Enthusiasm Do Activity 6:2 – The Importance of Your Attitude
Employers know that the most productive employees are those who like their work.
If you enjoy your work it will be easy for you. Some people may not like every part of their job. If there are certain things that you don't like, don't dwell on these tasks. Instead focus on the positive.
When people ask you about the job, focus on the good things, not the negative.
Enthusiasm shows on the job.
Do Activity 6:2 –
The Importance of Your Attitude

17. Ability to Accept Criticism
Constructive criticism is necessary on every job.
Criticism is your employers way of letting you know how a job is supposed to be done.
Your employer will expect you to accept this without snapping back or becoming defensive.

18. Ability to Accept Criticism cont…
Regardless of how you feel, try to take it good-naturedly. Listen carefully and politely to your critic. Then thank him or her for trying to help you. Don’t just accept it, make use of it. See how the criticism can make you a better worker.
Remember you must always listen without losing your temper, otherwise you could be in jeopardy of losing your job.
Do Activity 6:2 The Importance of Your Attitude

19. Loyalty “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.” What does this mean?
It means you must be for your employer and company not against them.
No one is perfect, you may not agree with everything employer does, and you may object to some company policies, but you should not complain to your friends or “run down” the company.

20. Loyalty cont…
Things have a way of getting around town, especially in small communities and companies. It’s best to keep your comments to yourself. No one wants a disloyal employee on their payroll.

21. What you can expect from your employer
You can expect your employer to provide the following things
payments
safe working conditions
training
introduction to other workers

22. What you can expect from your employer
explanations of policies, rules, regulations, and changes in your duties
evaluations of your work
fairness
honesty
fringe benefits
standard separation procedures
Do Activity 6:3 – Employer-Employee Case Studies

23. Payments
You will be paid for the work that you do, but your employer will also take care of various payments on your behalf.
They should deduct income taxes from your pay and set aside money for your social security and workers compensation benefits (EI).

24. Payments There are various ways in which you might be paid
Wages –weekly, bi-weekly, monthly
salary
commissions

25. Wages –
These monies are paid to you by the hour. You will be paid for the hours that you work, so your paychecks could be different each week. Most laws state that if you work over and above 40 hours per week you will be paid overtime. Most companies offer overtime at time and half.

26. Salary-
Instead of paying you by the hour your employer may pay you by salary. A salary is a fixed amount of pay for a certain period of time, usually a year or a month. Most managers, supervisors and executives are paid by salary.

27. Commissions-
A commission is a payment that is a percentage of the total amount sold by a salesperson. Most employers pay their beginning salespeople a wage or salary while they are learning how to sell the company’s product.
Do Assignment 6-4
Co-Worker Case Studies