Respect at Work: Your Rights and How to Handle Problems
Learning Goals:
- Learn new words about problems that can happen at work.
- Talk about why it’s important to be treated fairly at work.
- Read about discrimination and harassment.
- Listen to someone talk about workers’ rights.
- Write about how to make the workplace better.
Key Words:
- Discrimination: When someone is treated unfairly because of who they are (their race, gender, religion, etc.).
- Harassment: When someone does or says something to bother or upset someone else at work.
- Whistleblower: A person who tells someone about bad or illegal things happening at work.
- Rights: Things that you are allowed to have or do as an employee.
- Fairness: Being treated equally and without prejudice.
Let’s Talk About It!
- What are some ways people can be treated unfairly at work? (Not getting a job because of their race, being paid less than someone else for the same work, being bullied by a coworker.)
- Have you ever seen or experienced discrimination or harassment at work?
- Why is it important to speak up if you see someone being treated unfairly?
Let’s Read!
Sometimes, people at work aren’t treated fairly. They might be discriminated against or harassed. This is wrong, and everyone has the right to feel safe and respected at work. There are laws to protect workers, but it’s important for us to know our rights and speak up if we see something wrong.
Listen and Learn!
(Teacher plays a short interview with a person who works to protect workers’ rights. Focus on simple explanations of rights and what to do if your rights are violated.)
Talk with a Partner!
One of you is a new employee. The other is explaining the company’s policy against discrimination and harassment.
Example:
- New Employee: “What happens if someone says mean things to me at work?”
- Experienced Employee: “You should tell your manager or someone in human resources. It’s never okay for anyone to be harassed at work.”
Homework:
Write a short paragraph about what you think makes a good workplace. What are some things companies can do to make sure everyone feels safe and respected?
Extra Fun:
Create a poster with a message about fairness and respect in the workplace. Use pictures and simple words to get your message across!
