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Tag: working

  • Learning Disabilities and Work

    Learning Disabilities and Work

    We most often think of learning disabilities that impact a student in school, however, LDs are lifelong and don’t magically disappear once a student has graduated and entered the workforce. The National Center for Learning Disabilities lists five areas where people with LDs may experience difficulties:

    Inefficiency – this could be working at a slower pace than coworkers, having organizational challenges or needing additional time to complete tasks

    High error rate – this could be errors resulting from poor reading or math skills or could be because someone takes longer to process information and react to situations.

    Problems with sequencing – this could cause problems with completing tasks requiring multiple steps or following directions

    Time management – this could be poor planning, tardiness or having problems with meeting deadlines

    Social skills – this could be problems with interactions between coworkers, customers or vendors or in verbalizing the impact of a LD to the employer to receive needed accommodations/modifications

    The Americans with Disabilities Act protects people with LDs, but only if the person has requested protection, identified their LD, and provided documentation to his or her employer and with needed specific accommodations included. In addition, a person must be able to complete the job, with modifications. Any company employing more than 15 employees is required to provide reasonable accommodations to those with disabilities that interfere with the ability to complete the job.

    Accommodations/modifications should be specific to the individual needs of the employee, therefore, there is no single list of acceptable accommodations. A person requesting protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act will benefit from understanding the job description and duties and knowing what accommodations/modifications will help him or her perform the job duties.

    The following list of examples is to provide ideas only. Please adapt to your specific situation:

    • Written instruction cards, laminated to help with performing multi-step job duties
    • Adjusting the font or background color on the computer screen to help people with dyslexia
    • Receiving company communications in written form, such as via email or memos. Written communication can be provided either before a company meeting to provide the person time to process information or after the meeting to allow the person to have a written copy of what was discussed.
    • Use of spell-check software or having a coworker edit written work.
    • Use of assistive technology, such as software that translates the spoken word into the written word
    • Using a tape recorder during company meetings or when given instruction.

    Again, these are ideas to help people with learning disabilities think about what may help them perform their job duties. By thinking about how you learn, how you work and problems you have had in the past, you will be able to determine what accommodations or modifications you may need in your job.

  • Age and Work

    Age and Work

    How old do you have to be to work? The ages vary, but in Ontario the legal age of employment is 14 years. For students in particular, there are certain laws and procedures employers are provided by the Employment Standards Act (ESA) that they must follow, and it’s essential that you as a young employee know them as well.

    In Ontario, it is mandatory that employers only schedule working hours  for students after school hours, on weekends and on statutory holidays where permitted. This ensures students stay in school and have an appropriate amount to time to study. Unless a student has been excused from school, only then they may work during school hours.

    Depending on your age, your work place options may be limited. From age 14 you may be employed in an office, arena or store; age 15, factories and repair shops; and age 16, construction and logging.

    It is also important to note that the student minimum wage is $10.30 an hour while it is $11.00 an hour for any non-student worker.

    Set by the ESA, it is you right to refuse, question and know about any hazards or unsafe practices in the your workplace. You have the right to refuse any type of work you feel is unsafe.

    Always be aware of your surroundings and report any conditions you feel may be unsafe. Ensure you have been properly trained and know the facts to be safe.

  • What to Do With a Gap Year

    What to Do With a Gap Year

    A gap year is an idea that many may brush off, may overlook, or may not take seriously. Gap years are often thought of as a ‘fallback’ or an alternative if your initial plans fall through. But it can be so much more than that.

    Taking a year off can let you revitalize and focus you. It allows an opportunity for you to grow outside of the school environment and provide a fresh outlook on what you want to do, what is important to you and how you want to continue your studies.

    You won’t be bored, I promise you. There are countless options for how to spend your year. Some may be more practical than others, but they all will (hopefully) help influence your upcoming decisions concerning what it is you want to do.

    Taking more classes is a common option. Working for those extra credits can give you the opportunity to explore those courses you never had the time for before. Maybe you’ve always had a passion for literature? You could try some offbeat English courses. Film? How about a “History of Western Filmmaking”? Taking additional courses allows the opportunity to boost your average and explore some alternative new fields.

    Then again, education is expensive. Working could be a good idea. You could work full-time or part-time either working as a barista or something totally unique. Your choice. Regardless, experiencing the workforce can be a positive and eye-opening experience and a little extra cash never hurt anyone.

    Maybe you want to see the world before heading back to the library? Traveling is an unforgettable experience. It is one that can broaden your mind, allow you to grow as an individual all while putting a good dent in the money you saved up working for the better part of your year off.

    Each can of course be inclusive of the others and each offers the opportunity to learn new skills, learn about yourself, network and hopefully help you decide which path you want to take or any changes you may want (or not want) to make to the one you’re already on.

    Your education is not a race. It’s your life. The decisions you make and route you choose will make a huge impact on your future so be sure to take your time and make the right decisions. Some people dismiss the idea of a gap year as a ‘wasted‘ or ‘lost‘ year but if you do it right and make the most of it taking a year off can be an extremely rewarding and eye-opening experience. You won’t regret it!

  • Two Jobs Are Better Than None!

    Two Jobs Are Better Than None!

    My first year of university officially ended on the 21st of April and the time arrived for me to finally think about getting a summer job. As I am an international student with a ears almost as big as my fiscal expenses, I would need to work at least 65 hours per week in order to cover my tuition for the coming school year. That is the equivalent of working one full-time and one part-time job. Now, who would have thought that going to school was the fun part of the year?!

    Luckily, I had already landed one job at a certain casual Canadian restaurant; the second job came soon after at a local convenience store thanks to the efforts of a well-built network of friends. The first thing I was grateful for is that both the jobs I landed required the same base skill set. I worked as a cashier at both the restaurant and the convenience store and my job required me to do the following tasks on a day-to-day basis:
    1) Take customer orders
    2) Manage any and all numerical transactions
    3) Talk to customers and solve their problems
    4) Clean the restaurant/store from time to time
    5) Do not spill anything on the boss’s pants( one of my co-workers had the unfortunate pleasure of doing so)

    Much to my surprise, I had mastered the base skill set in under a week without much difficulty. My first job had me working mostly overnight shifts and, as bad as it may sound, it was actually the ideal situation for me to work. This is because I would work from 11 pm to 7 am every night (or day; honestly working overnight really messes up your perspective of time), go home, have breakfast by 8, take a 2 hour nap and go to my second job (which would start at 11 in the morning and would go on until 3 pm).

    So the days passed and I continued with my daily exploits. I will not lie to you – it was hard. But the work itself was not bad and I enjoyed most of it. I made some great friends and went through some very hilarious experiences.

    So here is my final pieces of advice for anyone who wants to make the most out of working two jobs:
    1) Find two jobs that essentially are similar in nature and require the same basic skill set. Doing so will allow you to improve on those required skills and perfect them.
    2) Find jobs that are close to your house. Doing so will save you a long commute to work and will also save you time that you can utilize to do other things – like sleep!
    3) Make the most out of every situation. As clichéd as this may sound, it does work. Try and make new friends at work. Broadening your horizons will also widen your network of contacts that may help you later in life.
    3) You do not want to physically and mentally over-exert yourself. If you cannot handle two jobs then it is better to just have one. You will avoid making mistakes and potentially being let go from both your jobs this way. Instead, focus your energy on looking for scholarships/bursaries/loans to help pay for school. Also, ask your employer for help as many companies have educational benefit plans for student workers.

    Working two jobs is a strenuous task but it is possible. So if you find yourself in a situation like this sometime in the future then hopefully you shall remember my advice for you!