(PR.co.nz) With the school year about to finish secondary schools have today been asked to point their students to updated information on a website specifically set up to help young people entering the workforce.
The Department of Labour’s My First Job website is designed for students who may be thinking about work or may have just started working.
It provides access to all the basics they need to know about keeping safe at work and getting the pay, breaks, leave and holidays they’re entitled to.
There’s a section on employment agreements – what they look like, how to get one and how to negotiate changes before signing one.
The site first went live in June and after public consultation and feedback from 300 students it’s now been upgraded just in time for the summer holiday period when many young people start out in their first jobs.
Parents and caregivers will also find the website useful – with a separate section on what they can expect when their son or daughter starts work and how to help them resolve any issues they face in the workplace.
The site also provides information for employers on their health and safety responsibilities when hiring young workers and gives them details on the new entrants’ minimum wage.
The website will help young people to get the basics right first and save a lot of hassle later on. It is available at www.dol.govt.nz/myfirstjob.
Media Release 9 November 2010 from Department of Labour.