How to Keep your Job is a guide to staying in employment and avoiding the pitfalls of starting a new job covering everything from sickness to lunch breaks to appearance. There is no need to lose your job over a discrepancy so make sure that you read our guide to keeping your job. For more information, find out about starting an Apprenticeship or Traineeship or for more advice visit: www.apprenticeshiprecruitment.co.uk or call: 0121 707 0550 or e-mail: info@apprenticeshiprecruitment.co.uk

1. How to Keep Your Job?
Pathway Groupputting you first

2. Introduction
Sometimes when people start new employment they make a number of mistakes
that can mean that they get off on the wrong foot with their employers and this
could job, due to making some basic mistakes. At Apprenticeship Recruitment we
don’t want you to become one of these statistics so we have created this booklet to
guide you through the basics of starting employment so that you can impress your
employer and make you stand out, in a good way, and become a valued employee.
‘Do’s &‘Don’ts
Attendance
Being Late For Work
Being reliable is a number one priority to an employer!
If you are not there, then you can’t do a job, no matter
how good you are at it. You are paid to be at work at a
certain time and that means you need to be there on
time no matter what. However, this also doesn’t mean
that you can come rushing through the door minute
before you are due to start because you won’t be ready
to‘start’
Un-foreseen circumstances pop up from time to time
and if this is the case, apologise for being late and offer
to make the time up after work or at lunch-time.
Lunch Breaks
Everyone is entitled to a lunch break however it shouldn’t be abused!
• DON’T take your lunch break without checking with your Manager/Supervisor
first. Other people in your team will also have to take a lunch break and while
they are away the office can’t just be left empty if you disappear too.
• DON’T take your full break AND THEN eat your lunch at your desk when you
should have been working. Lunch Breaks are a time for you to have a rest and eat
your lunch at the same time.
• Don’t be late: If you are entitled to a 30-minute break, take a 30-minute break but
DON’T be late back!
There are too many incidents of people having been warned or sacked for persistent
lateness. Don’t be one of them.
1.

3. Doctors, Dentists & Other Appointments
Everyone has to go to the Doctors and Dentist from time to time however when you
are working full-time it is important that unless they are an emergency then you
arrange the appointments outside of your working hours or arrange a time which
suit your company.
Check with your manager when would be convenient BEFORE you book your
appointment and once you have booked your appointment present your
appointment card to your Manager so that they know you are telling the truth and
have evidence. Note: Usually it is better to make your appointments at the start or
end of the day or even if in a lunch break.
Cigarette & Coffee Breaks
Every place of work is non-smoking however; some companies will allow you to
take cigarette breaks during the working day.
• Make sure that you find out from your manager/supervisor what the acceptable
number of breaks is/time restrictions and DO NOT exceed it.
• DON’T take breaks at times when it is going to cause difficulties to other
members of staff who will have to cover for you.
Breaks to make coffee are acceptable within most workplaces. Once made, the
drinks should normally be consumed whilst
you work. Don’t forget to be polite and offer
to make drinks for others in your office when
you are making one for yourself!
Leaving Early/Clock Watching
In general leaving early, without permission
is unacceptable. If there is a genuine reason
that you need to leave early then discuss it
with your manager/supervisor but do not
expect it to be automatically granted.
Managers might not mind if it is a one-off
occasion for a genuine reason but make sure that you are not packing up five or ten
minutes before you are due to finish work, so that you can rush out the door. Finish
the job you are doing and then tidy your desk before leaving.
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4. Sickness
Nobody can help being ill however employers want a reliable
employee! Sickness will be closely monitored, especially in the
early days of your employment. Simply wanting a day off from
work is not an acceptable reason to ring in sick! Being off un-
expectedly could cause your employer serious difficulties, as
they have to find someone to do your job at short notice while
you are away or get others to cover your role. Remember
you are part of a team and by ringing in sick could be letting
people down or making others suffer.
If your illness is genuine but you have the energy to go into work then it might be
worth you doing this and then being sent home if you feel worse later in the day.
This will make the right impression that you are dedicated and your manager will
see that you are not‘Pulling a Sicky’! You can feel better once you are busy at work.
However, if you are really un-well make sure that you ring in early and inform the
company so that they will be able to make the necessary arrangements to cover
your absence. This will show that you take genuine care over your work.
Note: If you are ill for a period of time then you may need to provide a doctor’s note as
proof. Each company will have their own policies and procedures relating to sickness so
make sure that if you know your illness won’t be over in a couple of days that you know
what you need to do to avoid inconvenience or annoyance to your employer.
Also, make sure you ring in yourself: Don’t get your boyfriend/girlfriend or sister/
brother/friend to ring in and don’t get someone to pretend to be one of your
parents, you’ll get found out and it’s not worth it.
Finally, you must ring DAILY!
Sickness is one of the biggest reasons for a young employee receiving a disciplinary
at work.
Don’t pretend to be sick, you will be caught out.
Here are a number of examples where people have got caught out in the past
• Being in town shopping, having lunch or going out in the evening: You might not
have booked the day off but others could have and if they see you they are very
likely to tell someone.
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3.

5. • Name appears in the local paper in regards to something you have been doing
while you have supposedly been ill e.g. volunteering, sports activities, attending
community days etc.
• Seen at a part-time evening job: If you are well enough to work this job why
weren’t you well enough to work your full-time job earlier in the day.
• Stories that don’t match up or repeated stories week after week: These will draw
attention to you and make people question and investigate if you are telling the
truth.
Remember: If you are telling the truth you have nothing to hide or worry about!
Holidays
Everyone deserves a break from work especially after working hard for a long period
of time. However, follow the following do’s and don’ts so that time off doesn’t
become an issue:
• Always give your company as much notice as possible if you would like to take a
holiday.
• Don’t book your holidays until you have checked with your manager/supervisor.
If the office is expected to be particularly busy or other members of staff have
already booked to have the same days off, then your request may be declined so
there is no point wasting your time and money.
• Do not expect that any last minute plans will be authorised. Make sure your
partner knows how important your job is to you so that they don’t waste their
money booking a surprise holiday in a period you are meant to be working.
Book early to avoid disappointment!
Attitude
Don’t Be Lazy!
If you’ve finished your work then ask for something else to
do. Being proactive will mean you’re your managers will
respect and trust you and you working days will go more
quickly. Also your manager will be impressed by your
enthusiasm which is great for working your way up the
career ladder!
Not being lazy includes turning up to work on time,
having a positive attitude and not taking off fake sick days.
4.

6. Repetitive & Boring Tasks
All jobs have some mundane tasks and just because you think a task is boring
doesn’t mean that it is unimportant. They might be the make or break of the
administrative way that your company functions. Concentrate more‘the boring’
tasks as your mind might be prone to wander, or you might get bored and miss
information or not check it properly and therefore more likely to make mistakes!
Also, being asked to make drinks, get the mail, or do the filing or photocopying
may seem boring but it is could be vital to the success of the business or customer
service and is also something that is expected just like any other tasks in any other
part of your job. Have a positive attitude whatever the task is that faces you.
Taking On New Responsibilities
Be eager to take on new responsibilities as it will make your day more interesting
and varied.
Don’t expect to always be doing the job that you are doing at the moment.
Note: If you want to progress, your managers will be able to see your potential if you
take on new tasks.
You Are Part of a Team
Being part of a team means that you should perform your tasks correctly, on time
and communicate effectively with the rest of the team. If someone in your team
needs help and you can offer that help then help them out. This will build others
confidence in you and mean that good reports go back about you to the manager.
It is also important to respect your colleagues. In life there will always be people you
get on with less well than others however in a working environment you must be
polite and professional to everyone, regardless of your personal views.
If you have a problem either with the work you have been told to do or someone or
something else, talk about it to either a manager. It is best not to become involved
with work gossip so make sure that you always speak about people well because
you don’t want your manager finding out you have spread gossip or involved in
things that you shouldn’t be. However, DON’T bottle up your emotions as eventually
you will crack and the problem will be bigger than it needs to be. You will also suffer
from stress and ill health if you let problems linger.
DON’T roll your eyes or‘tut’when asked to take on a task that may be repetitive or
boring. Remember it might be boring but it might also be vital.
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7. Communication
E-mail & Internet
Your E-mail and Internet access at work should be used purely for business use and
not for you to contact friends/family or to surf the Internet. Always ensure that the
e-mails you send are polite.
If you are fortunate enough to be working for a company where personal use is
permitted then use your common sense and follow the following guidelines:
• NEVER send rude or offensive emails to anyone inside or outside the company
about anyone inside or outside of the company.
• DON’T use the Internet or E-mail to harass another member of staff, client or
customer.
• ONLY go to appropriate websites: It is likely that your company will be
monitoring where you visit.
• If you are allowed to use the Internet for your own personal uses DON’T
excessively use Internet or e-mail for things that don’t directly relate to your
work. Your usage will be monitored and if you are spending more time surfing
then doing your job your employer won’t be happy.
• Remember Social Media Sites like Facebook and Twitter are likely to be restricted
or not allowed to be used during working hours so don’t get yourself into
unnecessary trouble.
• And finally, ONLY use these privileges during your lunch break or when you have
been given permission.
Remember: These are not your computers!
Telephone & Mobile
DON’T use your office phone for personal calls without first
checking with your supervisor or manager. The office phone
should ONLY be used for making important calls, not general
chatting.
Most companies expect you to switch off your mobile phone
during working hours or at the very least ensure it is silent.
Do not accept or make calls on your mobile phone unless it is important or within
your lunch break and the same applies to text messages. If someone needs to get
hold of you in an emergency, then they should call the work number, not your
mobile.
6.

8. DON’T try to hide what you are doing: Texting under your desk will be noticed!
If you need to make a personal call, ask first!
Listen
If anyone is informing you of something relating to your job it is important to listen
carefully! NEVER be afraid to ask someone to repeat or elaborate on what they are
saying if you don’t understand because you don’t want to make costly mistakes
later.
It may be helpful to take notes, which you can refer back to later because this will
mean that information is fresh in your mind and recorded so you know that you are
doing the right thing and following instructions. Buy a notebook and write it down.
Talking, Shouting, Swearing and Other Inappropriate Language
You are being paid to work and you are a professional employee who is a
representative of the company at all times. It is therefore very important that you
get on well with everyone you work with and clients. Shouting, swearing or other
inappropriate language are all things that you ahould never do in the working
environment or anytime where you are representing the business. This includes
going to other companies, on public transport etc.
Something that you might think is fine to say others may find offensive. You don’t
know everyone’s backgrounds, families and views about right and wrong so keep
everything polite and appropriate. Don’t do anything during or after working hours
that could potentially cause the company to gain a bad reputation and to therefore
lose business. At the end of the day they employ you and to be able to continue to
employ you they need to be successful in their business.
Inappropriate Jokes/Banter
Remember that something you may find amusing could cause offence to others you
work with. No one wants to stop you enjoying yourself at work, but it’s important
that other people are not made to feel uncomfortable, isolated, singled out or hurt
by any comments that you make.
This can include but is not limited to: ageist, racist or sexist remarks as well as any
other form of discrimination. If you are accused of any of these things it could lead
to disciplinary action being taken against you which isn’t good on your record.
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7.

9. Appearance
Work Dress Code
Always wear smart clothes to work, if you are working in an office. Most businesses
do not accept jeans or trainers. Ensure that your clothes are not too skimpy and do
not show your thong or your bare belly!
Tattoos & Piercings
Most companies would expect or would prefer if you covered up tattoos and
piercings for work, particularly if you are dealing with customers or clients.
If you have piercings other than one pair in your ears, e.g. multiple ear piercings,
eyebrow, nose or tongue studs, and then some companies may request that these
are removed during office hours to ensure that the professional image of the
company is maintained.
If you choose to have a piercing done after you start work then ensure that it is
either out of sight or check in advance with your employer, as you might not be able
to remove it for the first six weeks.
Overall
Your job should be enjoyable and, if you follow the suggestions within this booklet
then it should remain so. Working relationships can easily be compromised when
people behave in an inappropriate manner.
Remember in all situations that the employer is paying you to do a job and so you
need to respect them to keep it.
Want More Information?
If you would like any more advice on jobs,
interviews, applications and Apprenticeships or
Traineeships call Apprenticeship Recruitment
today on: 0121 707 0550 Fax: 08444 127362 or
E-mail: info@pathwaygroup.co.uk
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