There's more to a job than performing set tasks. It's important to:
Work safely
As a new worker, you're less familiar with the workplace, tasks, equipment and materials than other workers are. This puts you at greater risk of workplace injury and illness.
Your employer is responsible for looking after you during this crucial time. They should:
- give you a copy of the health and safety policy
- tell you about emergency procedures and show you where emergency exits and fire extinguishers are
- show you how and where to report workplace incidents, such as injuries and illness.
- introduce you to the occupational health and safety representative and the first aid officer
- train you about the hazards and risks of your specific job and workplace
- instruct you how to work safely.
- properly supervise you until you're competent in your job
They should update you with occupational health and safety information and training as necessary, and always be reinforcing occupational health and safety awareness.
Get on with your supervisor
A lot depends on your supervisor's personality and style of leadership. But you can do plenty to maintain a good relationship from your side.
- Try to understand and respect their style and approach.
- Try to understand the pressures and demands on them.
- Show that you want to contribute to achieving their goals for the business.
- Keep them informed: tell them what's happening and what you intend doing. If something isn't going well for you, tell them personally.
- Don't complain about them or criticise them, either to their face or to other people.
Get on with your co-workers
Be pleasant with the other people in your workplace. Respect them as people, and respect their knowledge and skills. Listen carefully to what they say to learn new things about your workplace, and to build their good opinion of you.
If everyone's busy, show sympathy with others as you go about your own job. If they're busy and you've got a little free time, offer to help them in their work. This shows that you're willing to be part of the team.
Don't play office politics
The office grapevine is an informal way of sharing information. If any gossip reaches you along the grapevine, don't pass it on. Speak well about other people at work, or don't speak about them at all. Particularly show respect for your boss; don't join in if people complain behind your boss's back.
Always give credit where credit's due. If a co-worker makes a good suggestion, give them credit for it when you talk about the idea with other people. If people praise you personally for something that was a team effort, always point out that others were involved.
On the other hand, when you make mistakes, don't let anyone think someone other than you was responsible. Acknowledge that you were wrong, do what you can to fix things and move on.
Behave ethically
Always behave in an ethical, well-mannered, professional way. Follow all the workplace rules. Develop a reputation for honesty and integrity, and live up to that reputation at work and everywhere else.
Don't swear in the workplace, even if others do. Everyone will respect you more if you don't join in the swearing.
People's taste in humour is very personal. Don't tell jokes that might offend any of your workmates. When you first start, wait for a while to see what humour people consider appropriate here, and use that as a guide to your own use of jokes.
Further information