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General Employment Rules

General Employment Rules

For some of you, this may be the first job you have ever held. Developing a professional attitude and self-discipline now will serve you well throughout your entire career. These rules are general behavior guidelines. They promote good work habits, as well as providing the best service possible to your customers and your employer. Developing professional behaviors will aid you as you continue down your career path.

  1. Dress in a manner appropriate to your work location. Your work location may have very specific guidelines about attire. Check with your supervisor for their department specific policy.
  2. Social interaction in the office should be kept to a minimum. Discussing your personal life should not be done while someone (a customer, co-worker, etc.) is waiting for assistance. Although your work site may be open for student use, refrain from inviting your friends to stop by for a chat while you are working. If they are using the services, help them but keep your interaction professional.
  3. This is a work area and should be kept neat and organized at all times. When you finish your shift, you should leave the area ready for the person working the next shift.
  4. Personal phone calls in the workplace should be limited. Please check with your supervisor on their department’s policy on use of department phones for personal use.
  5. Cell phones.  Cell phone (calls or texts) use during work hours should be limited. Phones should be set to silent and kept out of sight. If you are expecting an important call/message, inform your supervisor in advance.
  6. Computers in the office are not for personal use unless approved by your supervisor.
  7. Lunch/Breaks: You are eligible for a 30-60 minute unpaid lunch break if you work a shift of six hours or longer. Your lunch/break will be scheduled by your supervisor as time and the work schedule permits. There are spaces available in almost every building for taking a lunch break. Shorter paid breaks (of up to 15 minutes) may be permitted based upon the department’s policy.
  8. Use discretion when interrupting  meetings or workshops in progress. Usually a closed door means do not disturb. When in doubt, ask your supervisor how you should handle such situations.
  9. Consider all office information and communication confidential. Avoid inappropriate public discussions about students, alumni, or university policies. You should treat information that you come across in the course of your duties to be confidential. You may have access to records, which contain personally identifiable information, the disclosure of which may be prohibited by law.  Unauthorized release of information may be grounds for disciplinary action as may be deemed appropriate, upto and including discharge of employment. You are not to discuss, release, copy, or remove from the office any documents, or data in electronic form, without specific permission. Disclosure of confidential information to sources outside of the office may be cause for dismissal. In some offices, you may be asked to sign a confidentiality statement.
  10. Remember, this is a job. Regardless of whether you are working as a work-study student/student/non-student temporary, good work performance is expected. Your supervisor may give pay raises based on your performance. Your supervisor and co-workers may someday be a source of professional recommendation letters. Remember that poor work performance may be grounds for disciplinary action as may be deemed appropriate, upto and including termination of employment.
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Professional workers

  1. Take full responsibility for the results of their efforts and actions. They may seek advice and consultation but they do not attempt to transfer responsibility for their mistakes to others.
  2. Continually seek self-improvement. They take advantage of every opportunity to gain/enhance their knowledge and understanding in connection with their professional duties.
  3. Respect the confidence of others. The welfare of those they serve often requires that information concerning them remains confidential.
  4. Are loyal to their fellow teammates. They do not gossip about them or the clients they serve. They understand the importance of teamwork.
  5. Avoid rumors. They do not repeat or give credit to information received through the “grapevine”. They secure information directly from those authorized to release it.
  6. Address their grievances through proper channels. They discuss them directly and privately with those authorized to make adjustments. They refrain from complaining and grumbling to others.
  7. Are cognizant of their fellow teammates. They consider the effects of their actions on others.
  8. Meet their professional obligations. They do their very best to fulfill their commitments and obligations.
  9. Do not advance themselves at the expense of others. They strive for recognition and advancement in their profession only on the basis of superior professional performance.
  10. Are proud of their profession. They reflect to those outside the profession a pride and satisfaction in the work in which they are engaged.
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Professionalism

Frequent reference is made to a “professional attitude” and “professional conduct” on the part of persons engaged in occupations considered professions. These are not easy to define in a few words, but there are certain characteristics associated with professional status. One outcome of earning a college degree is the potential to be hired for professional jobs; learning and adopting the job attitudes and behaviors of a professional while you are still a student will be valuable to your career.

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