FROM THE VOCATIONAL AND REHABILITATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE
www.vrri.org
(original, reprinted with permission)

from a brochure How to be a Good Worker (pictures omitted; original font reduced)

Time

• Be on time for work.
• Come back from lunch on time.
• Do not hang about in the washroom.
• Do not stop until your work-time ends.

Phone

• Phone your boss if you cannot go to work.
• Phone at least 30 minutes before your work starts and say why you cannot work.

A bad day

It is not OK to skip work because you slept in, or missed the bus or just wanted to do something else.

When to stay home from work

• It is OK to stay home if you are very sick.
• It is OK to stay home if someone in your family has just died.
• It is OK to stay home if there is a big snow storm.

Stay clean and neat

• Wear clean clothes. They should not smell, look dirty, or have holes. Sometimes you will get clothes at work, so you look like other workers there.
• Wash yourself every day.
• Keep your hair clean and tidy.
• Brush your teeth every day.
• Keep your finger-nails clean.
• If you are a man, shave or keep your face-hair very clean.

Listen

• Listen to what the boss tells you to do.
• Tell the boss when you do not understand.
• Ask for help when you need it.
• If you did not hear, ask for things to be said again.
• Listen if your boss tells you ways to be a better worker.

Other workers

• Do your best.
• Try to work well with others.
• Let them get on with their work.
• Ask before you use people’s things—do not just take them.
• Be polite—say please, thank you, and excuse me.
• Do not swear at anyone.
• Do not stand really close to others.
• Do not touch others, unless you need to for your job.
• Do not talk too much about sex or tell jokes that put people down.
• Do not steal things from work.
• If you feel upset about something, talk to someone you trust at work.
• If you get angry, do not shout and do not hit anyone. Take a break, and calm down. Then talk to your boss about the problems that made you angry.

These tips will help you be a good worker.

[Flesch-Kincaid reading level = 2]