Module 1 Unit 1 World of Work
What is Work?
 Work is an effort made to do something
eg.: Parent making breakfast
What is Employment?
 Employment is work that is undertaken for
payment
eg.: Chef in a restaurant preparing breakfast
 The Difference is payment
World of Work
What is an Employee?
 This is someone who works for someone else for
payment.
 Employees can work in the primary, secondary or
services sectors.
What is an Employer?
 This is a person or company that pays others to
work for them.
eg.: the government pays teachers, nurses and
Gardaí, a shopkeeper pays a shop assistant, etc
World of Work:
What characteristics does an employer look for in potential
employees?
 Be able to explain each of these:
 Exercise: Outline each of these in your notes copy

Trustworthy

Reliable

Hard working

Adaptive

Initiative

Motivated

Good communicator

Energy and drive

Team player


Loyal

Enthusiasm and
commitment
Innovative
World of Work
Rights of an Employee
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
To receive the minimum wage
Safe and healthy working conditions
Be treated equally
To join a trade union
To statuary paid holidays
Not to be unfairly dismissed or discriminated
against
World of Work
Responsibilities of an Employee
1. Adhere to their duties of contract
2. Do an honest day’s work
3. Protect the employers property and
good name
4. Carry out all reasonable instructions
from their employer
5. Be honest and trustworthy
World of Work - What are the benefits of work?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.


Income
Benefits in kind
Skills
Self esteem
Social aspect
Job security
Exercise: Explain why the above are benefits
of work – use examples
Also explain 2 possible drawbacks for having a
job
World of Work - Recent employment trends
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Rising unemployment
Higher Taxes: Falling wages and net pay
Collapse of construction
Fall in net migration
Impact of I.T. on jobs
Flexible working arrangements/non permanent
jobs.
Irish Unemployment Trends
The Labour force – Any person available for work except students,
those who choose to stay at home and those retired
 This includes all the people who are employed and
all those who are available for work but who are
unable to find work.
World of Work: What are the causes of the recent
increases in unemployment in the Irish economy?
Re-location of industry
2. Over reliance on construction sector.
3. Banking crisis
4. Economic recession/cyclical unemployment
5. Government cutbacks.
6. Irish companies exporting to US and UK
1.
Exercise – explain using examples how the above
have caused unemployment to rise in Ireland
World of Work
What options are available to you if you become unemployed and
you wish to return to work?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Re train
Set up your own business.
Volunteer Work.
Part-time position
Emigration
Exercise – evaluate how each of the above could
assist a person who is unemployed
World of Work - What is FAS?
 FAS is Ireland’s national training and employment
authority – will be changed to SOLAS 2012
 It improves the skills and abilities of both
individuals and businesses so that Ireland can
continue to develop as a competitive, knowledge
based economy
 FAS provides training and employment
programmes, recruitment services to job seekers
and employers,
 Acts as an advisory service for businesses and
supports for community based enterprises such
as tourism and heritage projects who wish to
create jobs in their locality
World of Work
 What is VTOS?
 Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme
 VTOS consists of a range of full-time courses
designed to meet the education, training and
qualifications needs of people in receipt of a
range of social welfare payments
 VTOS allows people to develop new skills and
equips them to gain employment or progress to
further education courses which will also lead
to employment
World of Work
 What is Youthreach?
 This is a programme directed at unemployed
young early school leavers aged 15-20 and
operates on a full-time, year-round basis.
 It provides opportunities for basic education,
personal development, vocational training and
work experience.
 It improves participants chances of gaining
employment.
World of Work – Enterprise Ireland and Co Enterprise Ireland
 What is Enterprise Ireland?
 This is a state owned enterprise which provides advice




and financial support to Irish businesses who wish to
start up or grow.
It supports and funds companies who wish to engage in
research and development, it helps firms export and can
also buy shares in certain businesses
Co Enterprise Boards are set up by the government to
help small local businesses.
They provide advice, grants, workshops, courses and
mentors to community businesses.
People in each locality can thus acquire the skills and
knowledge needed to set up and run their own business.
World of Work – Self Employment
 This means that someone works for themselves for payment.
eg.: farmers, doctors, restaurant owners, taxi drivers, etc
 You are your own boss and can make your own decisions. You can
choose what you want to do
 Working hours
 What goods or services you provide
eg.: you might be able to develop a hobby
 You can keep all the profits you make
 Your more motivated to work hard and receive greater
satisfaction when you do well as it’s your business and as your
hard work is paying off
World of Work – Risks of Being Self Employed
 The business could fail
You might lose the money you put into (invested in)
the business
 You might also lose your own personal
property/possessions due to unpaid loans
 You may have to work long hours.
 It might be stressful
 You have limited finance available and may have to wait
a number of years before the business makes profit

 Exercise – compare and contrast the risks and rewards
of self employment.
World of Work – Employer’s Rights
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
To decide on the aims and objectives of a business
and on the policies to achieve these objectives.
They have the right to ensure these objectives are
achieved.
They have the right to run the business.
They have the right to select suitable staff.
They have the right to expect employees to honour
their contracts and to dismiss staff (fairly).
Explain using examples why employers need rights
World of Work - Responsibilities of an Employer
1.
Provide safe and healthy working conditions, safety
clothing and training.
2.
Obey all laws relating to employing staff eg.: laws on
employing young people, minimum wages, discrimination
and fair dismissal, etc
3.
They are responsible for deducting PAYE and PRSI
and paying these to the Revenue. They keep record of
these deductions.
4.
Pay the agreed wage for work done
5.
Give staff their statutory holiday/maternity benefits
and allow them to join a trade union.
World of Work - Contract of Employment

This sets out the terms of employment:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Employer’s name and address
Employee’s name and address
Job title and duties of the job
Date of commencing work
Length of the contract
Rates of pay
Details of holiday entitlements
World of Work - Employee Records
 The following are the employee records a
business usually keeps:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Application Form
Curriculum Vitae
Performance Records
Income Tax and PRSI Records
Contract of Employment
World of Work – Employer’s Health and Safety Obligations
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Have a safety statement that explains procedures to
deal with emergency situations (such as fires, injuries)
– required by law, It is a written document that
identifies hazards, assesses risks and makes changes
to ensure the workplace is safe.
Have a safe and healthy working environment
Provide training, instructions, fire drills, safety signs,
etc
Appoint a safety officer and report any accidents to
the Health & Safety Authority.
Provide safety equipment and clothing.
Takes steps to prevent bullying and discrimination.
World of Work

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What obligations do employees have
regarding health, safety and welfare?
To follow all safety procedures and adhere to
all notices
To wear protective clothing.
To use all relevant machinery properly.
To report all hazards and accidents.
To treat each other with respect
World of Work
 What are the benefits of Health and
Safety regulations in the workplace?
1. Workers are protected from unsafe work
practices.
2. These ensure workers are treated with dignity
3. All employees have up to date information, equipment
and training, and can take responsibility for their
own safety and for the safety of others.
4. Workers moral improves as does staff turnover,
absenteeism and productivity
World of Work
 Employment Equality Act

This outlines and outlaws discrimination on nine
grounds:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Age
Gender
Marital Status
Family Status
Religion
6.
7.
8.
9.
Ethnicity
Sexual Orientation
Membership of
travelling
community
Disability
World of Work
Employment Equality Act

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
It is against the law to discriminate in the
following areas:
Hiring workers
Training
Promotion
Dismissals
Working conditions
World of Work – Employing Young People

Young people and employers need to be aware of the
Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act 1996
which protects young workers’ health and ensures
work doesn’t put a young person’s education at risk
 Exercise – Research the above Act and
summarise its benefits
World of Work
Trade Unions
Trade Unions help their members in the following
ways:
1.
They fight for better wages, shorter working hours,
longer holidays, safer working conditions, etc..
2. They represent and negotiate employees or groups of
employees who are in dispute with their employer.
They pay any legal bills necessary to fight the case.
3. They represent members in discussions with employer
organisations and the government, on matters such as
taxation, wages, etc and negotiate a better deal.
4. They protect the interests of their members.
eg.: protects them from unfair dismissal
eg.: as a group the union has a strong voice which acts as a
deterrent for redundancy

World of Work
Types of Trade Union
 ICTU – Irish Congress of Trade Unions is an
Umbrella group for all Trade Unions




ASTI - Association of Secondary Teachers
TUI - Teachers’ Union of Ireland
INO - Irish Nurses Organisation
SIPTU- Services Industrial Professional and
Technical Union
World of Work – Shop Steward
This is the local union representative and is
elected by members for a term of one to
three years.
 The main duties of a shop steward include:
1. Recruiting new members
2. Acting a as a link between members and union
HQ and passing on any information received
from head office.
3. Negotiating with the employer on behalf of its
members (employees)

Contrasting School with the World of Work
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Hours
Practicality
Variety
Income
Teamwork
IT/technology
Exercise – Explain using examples how
school differs from the World of Work