1. 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.
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2. 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.
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3. 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
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4. 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.
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5. Different Types of Work
Employment
Charity Work
Housework
Homework
Voluntary Work
Self Employment
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6. 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
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7. 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
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8. 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.
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9. The Law and the Workplace
Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act
The Employment Equality Act
The Protection of Young Persons Act
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10. 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.
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11. 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.
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12. Health & Safety Representative
They should provide safety training, information & instructions where necessary
Anti bullying policy
Health & Safety Representative
Provide safe & protective clothing, footwear & equipment.
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13. 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
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14. 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
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15. 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.
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16. 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
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17. 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
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18. 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.
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19. 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.
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20. 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
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21. 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
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22. 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
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23. 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,
Continuing breaches of the Act can attract a fine of up to € a day.
Homework – Summary report on Visit In…
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24. 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
Note what discrimination is mentioned
A workplace can be made up of a variety of people of different sexes, ages, races, cultures, political beliefs, race etc.
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25. This act outlines discrimination on nine grounds: Gender
Marital Status
Family Status
Age
Disability
Religion
Sexual Orientation
Traveller community
Race
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26. It is against the law to discriminate in the following areas:
Recruitment
Training
Promotion
Dismissals
Conditions of Employment
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27. 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.
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28. 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.
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29. 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.
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30. 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
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31. 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.
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32. Rights and responsibilities
Employees’ –
Employer’s - Book
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33. 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??
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