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You have the power to protect yourself, to be safe and to be treated fairly. You need to ask questions and you need to know how to talk to your boss.
- How do I talk to my boss?
- When should I talk to my boss?
- How should I talk to my boss?
- What should I not do?
- Be safe and be treated fairly
- What should I ask at the interview?
- What should I ask during orientation the first day or before I'm assigned a new task?
- What should I do to protect myself while I'm working?
- What things should I see in my workplace?
| How do I talk to my boss? |
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You have experience in talking to your parents, teachers, friends and other adults in
your life, but not the boss. It is a different type of relationship and it may be intimidating.
You know that there are certain things most employees are entitled to, like vacation pay
and job safety training. If you're not getting everything the law says you should, or if you
just want to ask for a particular Saturday off, you're going to have to talk to your boss.
Here are some helpful tips.
| When should I talk to my boss? |
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When...
- you need more information or training
- you'd like to have someone watch you do the job to make sure you're doing it right
- you know there is a hazard in the work
- you have a suggestion on how to make the work safer
- you suspect there is something in the work that could endanger you or another worker
- you are doing piece work and you want to make sure the way you are paid is providing for, at least, minimum wage
- you are asked to work more than eight hours a day or 48 hours a week
- Anytime you feel there has been a change to a term or condition of your working arrangement
- you have any type of question about your job.
| How should I talk to my boss? |
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- Keep a positive attitude and speak out of concern for your safety and those working with you.
- Be polite and respectful.
- Give the employer sufficient advance notice if you are asking for a day off ask as soon as you know you have a conflict with a scheduled workday to give the employer time to ensure someone can cover for you. An exception to this rule is a situation that falls under "Emergency Leave" of the ESA. (see Time off)
- Avoid confrontational words and behaviour.
- Try not to put your supervisor on the spot.
- Don't blame individuals.
- Try saying "I" instead of "you". For example: "I noticed the guard is not in place like it usually is" rather than "You took the guard off".
- Watch your body language e.g. don't cross your arms or point your finger.
- Make a positive suggestion to solve the problem if you can.
- State your issue or what you would like, clearly and concisely.
- If the request is about a personal issue, you can request to speak to the boss in an office or away from your co-workers.
- End on a positive note. Let the supervisor know that you want to do the best job you can, but this issue needs to be addressed.
| What should I not do? |
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Don't divulge personal information.
If unexpected personal events keep you from attending work as you normally would, you may be eligible for emergency time off.
Your boss doesn't need to know about your grandmother's illness, nor can they require that you provide personal information other than basics required for your employment and pay cheque.
What do you say? It's enough to say that there is a medical emergency in your family.
However, your employer is allowed to ask you to provide proof that you are eligible for an emergency leave of absence. You will be required to provide proof that it is reasonable in the circumstances. Don't take your boss's time just to state some facts. Approach the boss when you have a request or there's a problem with your work.
| Be safe and be treated fairly |
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Timing is everything. When should you tell the employer that you can't work on Tuesday nights? When
should you ask if you're going to get WHMIS training? There are appropriate times in your job to ask
certain questions.
Here's a plan for you to pull it all together. Things to get answers to:
- during your interview
- during orientation (first day)
- while you're working.
First tip, LISTEN. When they don't bring up the subject that's on your agenda, ASK your question.
| What should I ask at the interview? |
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While you're being interviewed to see if you're the right person for the job, you should be assessing whether this is the kind of place where you want to work and these are the kind of people you want to work with. Many people are too nervous to assess the company during the interview, but try to make the interview an opportunity to see whether they suit your needs and whether you'll feel comfortable working there.
Here are a few questions to ask if they don't bring up the topics.
- Will I receive job safety training? When will I get it?
- Will I be working with any chemicals? If I'm working with any chemicals, will I get hazardous materials training before I start to use the chemicals?
- Is there any safety gear that I'll have to wear? Does the employer provide the equipment? Will I receive training in how to wear it properly and make sure it's in good condition?
- Will I receive orientation to familiarize me with emergency procedures, first aid locations, etc.?
- What will my hours be? Will I be required to work excess hours (because my job is covered by a collective agreement that contains excess hours clauses)?
- Will I be required to wear a uniform? Will I have to pay for my uniform?
- Will I be required to remain at the workplace during my meal break?
- What are the terms and conditions of my employment (what will I be expected to do)?
| What should I ask during orientation the first day or before I'm assigned a new task? |
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Training always has to happen before you begin the work. Don't accept that they'll train you next Friday, when you're starting to work on Monday.
These are some of the safety-related matters they should cover during orientation. If they don't, speak up and ask.
- What are the company safety rules that I need to know?
- Who is my regular supervisor? Is that the person I should ask if I have questions about my job?
- If it's not the person who is training you, make a note to ask to be introduced to the supervisor and let them know that you're new to this type of work and if they will be close by so that you can ask questions or they can give you advice. You should judge the responses you get. A supervisor who is never around and has no one else assigned to work with you is not a good sign.
- What are the specific hazards in the job that I've been assigned and what steps do you take to make sure they don't injure me? What is expected of me?
- Is there any part of the job that needs special training like operating a forklift or running heavy equipment?
- Where are the fire extinguishers, first aid kits/station and emergency exits?
- Is there a safety committee? If so, where are the names of the members posted?
- Where is the Occupational Health and Safety Act posted? (It's required by law.)
- Where is the Employment Standards Act poster posted? (It's required by law.)
| What should I do to protect myself while I'm working? |
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Here are four things you can do to protect yourself at work.
ASK QUESTIONS
Of your boss
If you don't know, aren't sure or simply want to know more, then ASK someone. There is no such thing as a dumb question, especially when you're asking how to do a job that you've never done before. ASK until you're out of questions to ensure you are totally clear on the task that needs to be done and how to do it. Of yourself
a. Do I really know how to do this? Do I know what to do if...?
If the answer is no, ask your boss.
b. Is this a term or condition of my employment? Does my boss require my written agreement before I work these hours?
If you don't know the answer, consult the ESA and ask your boss.
Of others
Ask the health and safety committee member about the work, ask your parents or others in your household who have worked at similar jobs or make a call to a health and safety association, the union office
(if there's a union), the Ministry of Labour or others.
Who can I talk to outside of the workplace?
Health and Safety Links
Employment Standards Links
GET INFORMED
BEFORE starting a new job or a new assignment at the same job, use a mental checklist and ask yourself these questions.
- Do I know everything I need to know to recognize, assess and take control of hazards (as a worker) in this workplace or doing this task?
- Do I know whether I am getting at least minimum wage, and how many hours rest free from work I will receive each day and each week?
- Do I know what I should be paid, the hours I can be required to work and whether I have to work on Sundays and Public Holidays?
- Do I know how to do this work safely?
- Have I been trained?
- Do I have everything I need to do the job safely?
- Are the tools I've been given appropriate and in good condition?
- Do I have the right personal protective equipment and does it fit? Do I know how to use it? Is it in good shape?
- Where is the supervisor located in case I have a question?
WORK SAFELY
Follow the rules. The government creates laws to protect you and the employer provides you with workplace policies and procedures you must follow.
Do not fool around. Horseplay at work may seem like fun for some people, but it can be extremely dangerous and it's against the law. When you're at work, many of the rules are in place to protect you and others from injury and potential death.
SAY NO. IT'S OKAY IT'S YOUR RIGHT.
If you have tried to solve a health and safety concern by asking questions or if you don't have the health and safety training you need, or if something has just happened and you are concerned that it's not safe, you must tell your supervisor immediately. If he or she cannot or does not solve the problem, then it's okay to say "no" to the unsafe work. In fact, by law you have the right to refuse work that you think is unsafe.
Until the issue is resolved, you will be kept from the unsafe work. There is a process to follow set out in the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
If you have tried to solve an employment standards or health and safety concern by asking questions and you feel you are being penalized for asking, you may want to contact the Ministry of Labour. It may be a reprisal.
Want to know more about reporting hazards and refusing unsafe work?
I don't think my work is safe
Want to know more about reporting possible reprisals or other violations of the ESA?
I think my boss is wrong
| What things should I see in my workplace? |
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The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 (WSIA)
and the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) require employers to post or make available
various pieces of information in the workplace so that workers can see them. These items include:
For health and safety:
- a health and safety policy
- a copy of the Occupational Health and Safety Act
- health and safety committee names and work locations (if a committee is required and exists)
- a copy of the latest Ministry of Labour inspection report
- Material Safety Data Sheets if WHMIS applies.
For hazardous materials:
- first Aid room/person, poster, etc. according to the first aid regulations (Reg. 1101, under the WSIA).
For employment standards:
- Employment Standards Act, 2000 poster outlining the rights and responsibilities of employees and employers. The poster helps ensure that employers understand their obligations and employees know their rights. An employer who fails to meet the posting requirements may be prosecuted and fined.
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