Using My Voice
What does it mean to advocate for yourself?
Speaking up respectfully for what you need or don’t understand.
Name one expectation employers have of workers.
Being on time, calling if late, following directions, being respectful, showing effort.
Why do problems sometimes happen at work or school?
Everyone makes mistakes or unexpected things happen.
What does responsibility mean at work?
Doing what people can count on you to do.
What is one consequence of not meeting expectations at work?
Warnings, write-ups, or loss of trust.
What is one reason a student or worker might need to speak up?
To ask for help, clarify directions, explain a problem, or request support.
Explain why being on time is important at work.
It shows responsibility and respect for the job and coworkers.
Explain what employers care about most when a problem happens.
How the employee responds and communicates.
Name one responsibility workers need to manage.
Time management, communication, focus, following directions.
Explain how not communicating can affect trust.
Trust decreases because employers don’t know what’s happening.
Describe a situation at school or work where you would need to ask for help.
Examples:
Not understanding work or school directions
Feeling overwhelmed
Someone speaking too fast
Needing extra time or support
Describe what an employee should do if they know they will be late.
Contact their supervisor as soon as possible and explain respectfully.
Describe what an employee should do before their shift if something goes wrong.
Let their supervisor know before the shift starts.
Explain why responsibility is important in a job.
It helps the job run smoothly and builds trust.
Describe why communication is important when mistakes happen.
It helps fix the problem and shows honesty.
Explain how speaking up respectfully can help you succeed.
It helps you get support, avoid mistakes, and shows responsibility.
Explain how following directions helps employees and employers.
Work gets done correctly, fewer mistakes happen, and trust is built.
Explain what a professional response looks like when there is a problem.
Staying calm, being honest, taking responsibility, and asking what to do next.
Describe how responsibility affects trust between workers and employers.
Responsible workers earn trust; irresponsible actions reduce trust.
Explain how repeated problems can affect someone’s job.
Could lead to discipline or job loss.
Explain what could happen if someone never speaks up when they need support.
They may struggle, make mistakes, feel frustrated, or fall behind.
Describe how meeting workplace expectations helps someone keep a job.
Employers trust them and see them as reliable.
Explain how handling problems responsibly can build trust at work.
It shows reliability and honesty, so employers trust you more.
Explain how being responsible can lead to more opportunities at work.
Leads to raises, promotions, more independence, or better tasks.
Describe how trust is built and lost in the workplace.
Built by being reliable and honest; lost by poor communication or repeated mistakes.