Your teen may take workplace safety courses in school, and they will definitely get advice from their working friends. But as a parent, what can you do to prepare your son or daughter for their first job?
- Learn what their rights are as young workers, and make sure they know them as well. You can read all about them here.
- Do a bit of research on the company they are working for and see if there have been any safety violations against them in the past. Check out past OH&S convictions in Alberta.
- Remind your son or daughter to ask about workplace safety training during their job interview. If they have not been offered any sort of safety or other training, they should be encouraged to speak with their supervisor about completing some before they start work.
- Work with them on proper workplace etiquette. Some topics to cover may be: proper work hygiene, appropriate work conversations, and phone manner.
- Talk to them about working with older co-workers and the pressure of smoke breaks, after-work drinks, etc. They need to know that this kind of socialization is not expected from young workers, and that they can most definitely abstain from this behaviour without fear of retribution.
- Ensure that they know how to be fit for work, and that they know what the consequences could be if they aren’t.
- Encourage them to stand up for their rights as workers, and to speak with someone (a supervisor, teacher, a parent) immediately if they feel their rights are being violated.
For more information on youth workplace safety call us today!