The rough guide - Dorsetforyou.com

WHAT NEXT? 22
What if I am Offered
the Job?
• If you are offered a job
at the interview, or by
telephone, you don’t have
to decide at once. You can
ask for a day to think it over.
Reply quickly to job offers
made by letter.
• For help with letters, form
filling or practicing job
interviews ask teachers, your
Connexions Personal Advisor,
a Grapevine Information and
Advice Worker or your Youth
Worker for individual help.
AT WORK
If you are fortunate enough
to be offered the job, don’t
worry that you won’t
understand everything
straight away. If you are not
sure, ask for help. It is better
than making mistakes.
Your Rights at Work
If you are employed for
over 8 hours per week, in
employment that lasts
at least one month, the
employer must give you
written terms and conditions
of employment, or a contract
of employment, within
the first two months of
employment.
The terms and conditions
may be written in different
places, e.g. your letter of
employment, your job
description or a trade union
agreement. Keep in a safe
place any letters or papers
that are given to you by your
employer. Whatever these
written papers say, you and
your employer have certain
duties to each other.
Your rights and your
employer’s rights, are also
affected by any agreements
trade unions have made with
the employer and by many
acts of Parliament, e.g. on
health and safety, pay, race,
and sex discrimination. Even
if you have not been given a
contract, you still have legal
rights under emplyment
legislation.
You can get leaflets on rights
at work, race, disability and sex
discrimination etc. from your
nearest Citizens Advice Bureau.
Joining a Union
• It is your legal right to
choose to join a union when
you are 16. If you join a
trade union, they will advise
you on your rights, and help
sort out difficulties with
your employer. The union
works for a fair deal for all
workers in the workplace.
The union will not help you
unless you are a member.
Ask other workers what the
union does, find out who
your union representative is,
talk to them, and decide if
you want to join.
• If you do not join a union,
but want to check if you are
receiving correct wages and
fair conditions of service ask
at your local Connexions
centre or Job Centre/Job
Centre Plus.