Introduction to Working Life Work can be defined as an activity which requires effort e.g. washing the dishes. Employment: Employment is when payment is received for working e.g. washing dishes in canteen and getting paid. debshoganteaching

People who hire workers in return for payment. Employees: Employers: People who hire workers in return for payment. Employees: People who work for employers. Self Employed: People who work for themselves. debshoganteaching

School Work What challenges will you face when you leave school & start your working life?? Time Management Money Management New relationships & different roles Rights Responsibilities Freedom & Independence debshoganteaching

What are the main differences between school & employment? Work Hours are shorter 9.00 to 4.00 Work – theory sitting at a desk in school. Income – don’t get paid for school. Different classes each day. Different types of demands – e.g. school has homework. Hours are longer – you may have to work evenings, weekends, flexi time. Work is more practical than school Income - you get paid for work. More variety in day to day work. Different types of demands – e.g. must be committed. debshoganteaching

Different Types of Work Employment Charity Work Housework Homework Voluntary Work Self Employment debshoganteaching

Value of Work Employee Financial Benefits: Wages/salary Bonus Non-Financial Benefits: Security: able to plan for the future. Self-esteem: being useful, doing worthwhile things. Promotion: good morale & motivation. Possibility of travel. Acquire new skills/experiences. Acquire new friends: social aspect. Financial Benefits: Wages/salary Bonus Benefit-in-kind e.g. car Overtime debshoganteaching

Value of Work Self Employed Non-Financial Benefits: Being your own boss/make decisions. Self-esteem: doing something worthwhile Sense of achievement. Respect. Possibility of travel. Acquire new skills/experiences. Security: able to plan for the future. Financial Benefits: Wages/salary Benefit-in-kind e.g. car Share of profits/dividends debshoganteaching

Value of Work Voluntary Helping others. Acquiring new skills/experiences. Improve Curriculum Vitae. Enhanced reputation & respect. Sense of achievement. Achieving one’s own goals. Possibility of employment, should a vacancy arise. Name a voluntary org. in your area? What possible skills or exp could you gain as a volunteer working for this org? Can you name any org that looks for volunteers abroad. debshoganteaching

The Law and the Workplace Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act The Employment Equality Act The Protection of Young Persons Act debshoganteaching

Safety, Health & Welfare Act The Health & Safety Authority is responsible for enforcing the Safety, Health& Welfare at Work Act. The Health & Safety Authority - a state sponsored body - is responsible for developing and promoting new laws and standards. They promote good advice, research & information on H & S in the workplace. Inspects workplaces & investigates accidents. debshoganteaching

Employers Obligations Employers must provide safe working conditions for all employees e.g. safety signs should be clearly visible Safety Statement – this is a written document that identifies hazards, assesses risks and makes changes to ensure the workplace is safe. A safety statement is required by law. debshoganteaching

Health & Safety Representative They should provide safety training, information & instructions where necessary Anti bullying policy Health & Safety Representative Provide safe & protective clothing, footwear & equipment. debshoganteaching

Employees Responsibilities Employees should take responsibility for their own health, safety & welfare They should use Personal, Protective Equipment and protective clothing Follow training & instructions carefully Report any dangers / injuries to the Health & safety Representative Ensure there is no bullying in the workplace debshoganteaching

The Protection of Young Persons Act Recap – Visit In – Summary Report This act is designed to protect the health of young workers in Ireland and ensure that work carried out during school years does not put a young persons education at risk Young people have rights and should not be exploited Take Notes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IqVY4U0Nmo debshoganteaching

age limits for employment, rest intervals and The Act sets minimum age limits for employment, rest intervals and maximum working hours and prohibits the employment of anyone under 18 on late night work. The Act also requires employers to keep specified records for workers under 18. debshoganteaching

Employer must: See a copy of birth cert Pair Work – List Information an employer should keep 2. Keep a full register – full name, D.O.B., time work begins / ends each day, rates of wages, total amount of wages. Complaints made to Labour Inspectorate, dept of enterprise trade & employment debshoganteaching

Children Employers cannot employ children aged under 16 in regular full-time jobs. Children aged 14 and 15 may be employed as follows: Doing light work during the school holidays – they must have at least 21 days off work during this time As part of an approved work experience or educational programme where the work is not harmful to their health, safety or development debshoganteaching

may do 8 hours a week light work in school term time. Children aged 15 may do 8 hours a week light work in school term time. The maximum working week for children outside school term time is 35 hours or up to 40 hours if they are on approved work experience. debshoganteaching

Young people The maximum working week for young people aged 16 and 17 is 40 hours with a maximum of 8 hours a day. Young persons are only permitted to work between 6am and 10pm. Any exceptions to this rule must be provided by regulation – see ‘Licensed premises' below. debshoganteaching

Licensed premises general duties in a licensed premises to be required to work up to 11pm on a day that does not immediately precede a school day debshoganteaching

30 minutes break after working 4 hours 4½ hours Rest Breaks  Age Under 16s 16 and 17s 30 minutes break after working 4 hours 4½ hours Every 24 hours 14 hours off 12 hours off Every 7 days 2 days off debshoganteaching

Payment of wages All employees are entitled by law to a payslip. The national minimum wage is €9.25 per hour. Recommended to increase to €9.55 this year. This does not mean that everyone is automatically entitled to receive this. Young people aged under 18 are only guaranteed up to 70% of the national minimum wage which is €6.48 per hour. Your employer is, of course, free to pay you more than the minimum wage if they wish debshoganteaching

Penalties under the Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act Employers must give employees aged under 18 years a copy of the Act along with other details of their terms of employment within one month of taking up a job. Employers must also display the official summary of the Act at a place in their workplace Employers can get a fine of up to €1,904.61. Continuing breaches of the Act can attract a fine of up to €317.43 a day. Homework – Summary report on Visit In… debshoganteaching

The Employment Equality Act Aims: Promote equality Prohibit discrimination – discrimination is when one person is treated in a less favourable way than another person. Prohibit harassment – harassment is any act or conduct which is unwelcome & offensive, humiliating or intimidating. All employees are entitled to equal work for equal pay. Pair Work – list examples of discrimination in the workplace. Note 9 grounds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ6rKSo1tQs Note what discrimination is mentioned https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EryFfMsm58 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkVXnlHFsdI A workplace can be made up of a variety of people of different sexes, ages, races, cultures, political beliefs, race etc. debshoganteaching

This act outlines discrimination on nine grounds: Gender Marital Status Family Status Age Disability Religion Sexual Orientation Traveller community Race debshoganteaching

It is against the law to discriminate in the following areas: Recruitment Training Promotion Dismissals Conditions of Employment debshoganteaching

Employers must advertise – Equal Opportunities Employer Diversity in the Workplace Benefits Younger learns form older employee’s experience and older can keep up to date. Different backgrounds have different outlooks – decision making easier. Contacts in other countries. Learn to be tolerant – all the same regardless of gender, race etc. debshoganteaching

Trade Unions Promote good Industrial Relations Protect and represent workers to improve conditions. Better pay, & conditions (holidays, hours, facilities). Negotiate when disputes occur. Greater strength by working together. Shop Steward – elected by workers, represents, recruits, informs. Examples SIPTU, Impact, TUI, ASTI Labour Relations Commission, Rights Commissioner, Equality Officer, Labour Court. debshoganteaching

Full-time work Advantages – regular income, dont worry about finding a job, pension, security. Disadvantages – stay in job, work is the same, full time – less family and leisure time, less motivation. Job-share, flexitime, time rate, piece rate, commission, profit-sharing. debshoganteaching

Contract of Employment Employer’s name and address Employee’s name and address Job Title & Description Start date Salary Holidays, pension Duration of contract Any other conditions – location, hours signatures debshoganteaching

Unemployment Training schemes – solas (Fás), springboard, BTEA, VTOS, Youthreach. Pg 29 Options – retrain – courses Set up own business, volunteer, part-time work/courses, other countries. Changes in employment – work form home, technology, part-time/flexi/ job share, services, self employed, changes from construction/factory to tech/ pharma industry. debshoganteaching

Rights and responsibilities Employees’ – Employer’s - Book debshoganteaching

Discussion: Sex Stereotyping: making assumptions that there is a distinction between “men’s work” & “women’s work”! Do you agree?? Glass Ceiling – There is a gender imbalance in the higher levels of management and women find it particularly difficult to rise above a certain level. Do you agree?? debshoganteaching