Congratulations. You just finished school and got your first job out of high school/college - pick one. Now that you've got a job, let's figure out how you can keep it, i.e., not get fired. Unlike school, the work world has certain rules that apply no matter what the business. Ignore them at your peril.
Show Up On Time Every Day
The employee manual, that thick book they handed you on the first day and said you had to read; you really have to read it. This isn't something for an extra credit book report. This is “you better read this because you signed a card that said you did and if you don't and violate a company policy, you could lose your job.”
One of the first things in the manual is your work schedule. It tells you when to show up, when to take a break, when it's time to eat lunch and when to take your afternoon break. And then it tells you when you can leave, unless your boss tells you that you have to work overtime. And yes, if he or she says you have to work overtime, you have to work overtime.
You're working at the call center, answering customers' inbound calls about service contracts that came with their appliances, insurance policies, new furniture, etc. Before the phone banks open, you're supposed to read the policy changes and other notices that were posted on your computer overnight. The notices will also alert you to problem calls that might be coming in during the day. Arrive late and you'll be playing catch up all day.
By the way, your supervisor doesn't care if you were out clubbing last night or if you had a fight with your significant other or if your daughter was teething and kept you up until 3 am. Your English professor may have had some sympathy; your supervisor has his own issues; three people are out sick. He doesn't want to even deal with your problems.
No, you don't get brownie points for showing up on time three out of every five days. And trying to play let's make a deal with you supervisor won't work either. He has 35 people in his department and isn't interested in side arrangement with each of them, or any of them. Just show up on time and save everyone a lot of wear and tear.
The computer belongs to the company; you have no expectation of privacy in anything written on that computer.
You know all the cute jokes you emailed each other in the library stacks at State U.? hey were pretty offensive to women there. Here, they'll get you fired. Hot Women of Ohio is something that stays on your home computer. And if by some
”good” fortune it gets sent to you from a frat brother, delete it. No one can blame you for getting sexually explicit email from outside of work. But if you forward it to in another department, you're history. Even if the guy you send it to in another department thinks it's a crack up, the woman at the next computer who sees it and screamed is your problem. Just bend over and kiss your job goodbye. And don't argue. You were told anyone could randomly check your computer and guess what, some did just that. Guess how many chances you get when you send porn to someone else at work? If you guessed none, you're right.
Leave Your Personal Baggage At Home
Okay, we all have personal views on controversial subjects like abortion, gay rights, and religions at odds with the one your practice. Keep it to yourself. Everyone has a right to be treated with courtesy and respect. You may personally not approve of your lesbian co-worker's partner or. depending on what state you live in, spouse. It's truly none of your business. If you cannot honestly congratulate the couple, say nothing. There are probably aspects of your private life that offend others but hopefully they will discreetly allow you to make personal life choices without their intervention as well.
No Pilfering Pens, Folders Or Other Office Supplies From Work
It's okay to stick a pen in your pocket. It is not okay to pilfer a couple of boxes of pens. The office supplies are for the office. Taking stacks of pads home to keep by your phone for messages is not okay; it's stealing. And how many dry erase markers do you need, especially if there's no dry erase board in your office. If you have one at home, buy your own markers.
Deadlines are Serious Business; Meet Them Or Else
