Workbook 8

Activity 1: Individual Rights in the Workplace

Get Focused

Have you ever been employed? Perhaps you have worked as a babysitter, shoveled walks for neighbours, or completed odd jobs for your family. You might have been paid cash for the jobs you had. Applying for and getting a first real job is often a rite of passage for youths aged 12 to 14. The thrill of receiving that first paycheque is very exciting.

Whatever the job is, rules apply. Some rules are established by the employer, such as dress code, the time that the job begins and ends, and work responsibilities. The employer, however, must also follow rules that are established by the provincial government. These rules help to protect the employer and the individual rights of the employees.

Conduct a survey of part-time jobs advertised for youth in your area. Look in your local newspapers or flyers, on the Internet, or on signs posted in your community. You may also make a few phone calls, or make a personal visit to the employer who is hiring.

Find out the following information: 

• the qualifications that are required for the jobs
• the rules the employer has for the employees
• the responsibilities required of the employees
  

Record your findings in your Activities folder.

In this activity, you will examine this question:

How has or will the Charter of Rights and Freedoms protect my individual rights in the workplace?