At the end of this unit I will:

Learning Intentions At the end of this unit I will: • Know about and understand work • Understand volunteering • Be able to value work, employment and volunteering • Understand the skills required for employment, work and volunteering

BEFORE WE BEGIN #04AFEF Do this exercise individually or in pairs. Tick whether you agree or disagree with the statements. Revisit it after the unit to see if you have changed your mind about any of them.

‘3Ts’ = Turn, Think, Talk • What do you think is the difference between work and employment? • Is the government an employer? • Is your school an employer? Explain. Wonderful Worthwhile Websites www.publicjobs.ie www.careersportal.ie www.volunteer.ie www.irishaid.ie www.vso.ie www.youth-connect.ie

Work and Employment Work is generally define as a job, which requires effort. You necessarily receive payment for work. Employment is work undertaken for payment. 6

Work: Chef DonalSkehan cooks a barbecue for family and friends. Employment: He cooks for an RTÉ programme and receives payment for cooking. 7

Work: A bodhrán maker in the Aran Islands makes bodhráns for a friend. Employment: A local company pays the same bodhrán maker to make a batch for distributing around the world. 8

Work: Remy coaches the local under-11 soccer team with no payment. Employment: Derek manages a Premier League football team and receives a large salary. 9

Work and Employment The labour force is all the people who are available to work. An employer hires the employee and pays them a wage or salary in return for their effort. A wage is usually paid weekly and is based on the number of hours worked. A salary is usually paid monthly and is the same every month, however many hours are worked. The unemployed are people who are willing to work but are unable to find suitable work. Employees provide work in return for a wage or salary. 10

Work and Employment Which of the following do you consider work and which do you consider employment? • Flexitime • Schoolwork • Full-time work • Housework • Part-time work • Voluntary work • Temporary work • Training schemes work • Self-employment • Job sharing 11

CASE STUDY NETWATCH: WORKING GLOBALLY AND EMPLOYING LOCALLY Netwatch provides remote CCTV monitoring and protection for businesses and private dwellings. Their sales campaign slogan is ‘Think Global, Act Local’. Read the full case study about Netwatch on page 230.

Time to think The Business Studies course will provide you with numerous opportunities to develop important skills. Top skills that will make you more employable include: • Communication skills • Teamwork skills • Creative skills • IT skills • Motivational skills Do you have any of these skills? Can you name the skills you do have? Are there skills you can improve on?

Employment Rights As an employee, you have certain basic employment rights. One of these rights is a contract of employment – a written statement of terms and conditions of employment. A contract of employment covers the following terms and conditions: • A written statement of pay or wage slip • A minimum wage, which the government decides on • A maximum working week • Unpaid breaks during working hours • Annual leave from work • A minimum amount of notice termination of employment 14

Human Resources • It is important that there are good relationships between employers and employees • This relationship is known as industrial relations A strike occurs when employees refuse to work as a form of protest, usually about working conditions, such as low pay. • Benefits of a good relationship between employers and employers: • People are content and motivated • Leads to increased productivity, greater sales and more profits • Reduced chance of industrial action, such as strikes 15

Trade Unions • Many workers are members of trade unions • Trade unions are organisations that are set up to protect workers • Examples include: A trade union provides strength in numbers. • The Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) • Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) • Irish Second Level Students Union (ISSU) • The employee pays a fee to the union • The union can negotiate with employers for better terms and conditions of work 16

Trade Unions: Shop Steward • The shop steward is elected by employees as the union representative. • Shop stewards: • Recruit new members • Collect fees • Keep employees informed on updates • Negotiate with management on behalf of an employee • Communication is an important feature of industrial relations 17

Be a Researcher Source reports of a recent dispute from a newspaper or news online. • What was the dispute about? • Name the parties involved (the employer(s), the union(s)) • How many days were lost in the dispute? • What might you have done to resolve the dispute? • What was your source of information?

Employment Legislation Employment legislation is intended to ensure: • People are treated fairly • Employers don’t discriminate against employees • Employees are not unfairly dismissed • Employers comply with health and safety legislation • Employers deal with conflict and disputes in a fair manner 19

Employment Legislation The following are five important pieces of legislation that protect young employees: • Young Persons Act 1996 • Employment Equality Act, 1998/2004 • Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 Be a Researcher • Health and Safety Act 2005 • Industrial Relations Act 1990 • Source information on the Acts listed above. • Research laws that may affect you as a worker. 20

Benefits and Rewards of Employment • You will earn a wage/salary that you can spend as you want Being employed gives you financial freedom and independence. • An income gives you the opportunity to save • You have money to pay for important protections – e.g. insurance • When you are employed, you are entitled to holidays, sick leave, parental leave and retirement benefits • You will feel financially secure to have a salary/wage at regular intervals • Being employed may give you the opportunity to purchase a home • Employment gives you the opportunity to increase your knowledge and skills 21

Being Unemployed Unemployment occurs when there are people willing and able to work, but don’t have a job. • People can become unemployed for various reasons, for example: • Seasonal work • Business closing down • If you are unemployed, you may qualify for the Jobseeker’s Benefit (JB) • If you are unemployed, you should always be improving your skills to be more employable 22

CHECKING IN • Explain, using examples, the difference between work and employment. • Discuss the features of employment. • Is it good to be employed? Why? • Name three laws that protect employees.

Volunteering Volunteering means doing something, without payment, that will benefit other people, society or the environment. Volunteering has many benefits and rewards: • It can make you feel good to help others • It can help your CV stand out and positively impact your career • Helping others is a satisfying experience • It allows you to develop new skills • It provides an opportunity to make connections 24

Time to think Do you know anyone who volunteers? What would you say about them? Have you ever had an opportunity to volunteer? How did it make you feel?

Did You Know? Actress Angelina Jolie gives her time to help those in need. As a Special Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), she travels around the world highlighting the plight of refugees. She also works to promote other causes such as women’s rights, education and conservation. Many celebrities work to make a difference. Can you make a difference? 26

Time to think Being a Volunteer • The key to being a successful volunteer is to find a cause you believe in • When working as a volunteer: • Be respectful • Be reliable • Be professional • Be confident • Be ethical • Be the best How would you feel about working for nothing? 27

Work, Employment and Volunteerism 28

CHECKING IN • Explain, using examples, the difference between employment and volunteering. • What are the rewards and benefits of volunteering? • Name three ways in which volunteering can help you in your career.

2.3 EMPLOYMENT, WORK AND VOLUNTEERISM • What is usually paid weekly and is based on the number of hours worked? Quick Quiz Jobseeker’s Benefit Salary Wage

2.3 EMPLOYMENT, WORK AND VOLUNTEERISM • Jobseeker’s Benefit is a payment from the government to people who are unemployed. Quick Quiz: Review • A salary is usually paid monthly and is the same every month, however many hours are worked. • A wage is usually paid weekly and is based on the number of hours worked.

Labour force • Contract of employment • Employee • Payment • Employer • Trade union • Employment Equality Act, 1998/2004 • Unemployed • Unemployment • Health and Safety Act, 2005 • Unfair Dismissals Act, 1977 • Industrial action • Industrial relations • Volunteering • Industrial Relations Act, 1990 • Young Persons Act, 1996 • Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU)

At the end of this unit I will: