Education and Career Guidance (ECG)

Helping our students realise their dreams

Jul 2014 Issue (Secondary)

Content• Work Ethics• Learning Engineering At Polytechnics

(LEAP)• Learning Journeys for teachers

(Engineering)

Work Ethics

The importance of developing strong work ethics and how it affects our students’ performance in the workplace.

What is Work Ethics?(adapted from 1. Central Educational Centre (USA), 2. Indiana University of Pennsylvania & 3. AmericaEconomia resources)

Definition:

A group of moral principles, standards of behavior, or set of values regarding proper conduct in the workplace

Ethics is something that is learnt and chosen throughout one's life

5

Top 9 Work Ethics• Attendance

• Character

• Team Work

• Professional

image

• Productivity

• Organisational Skills

• Cooperation

• Respect

• Attitude

Work Ethics

Be on time…Don’t be absent

ATTENDANCE

• Limit AbsencesBe at work every day possiblePlan your absencesDon’t abuse leave time

• Come to work on timeBe punctual every day

Traits of a Preferred Employee

Work Ethics

Honest…Dependable…Loyal

CHARACTER

• Be honest“Honesty is the single most important factor having a direct bearing on the final success of an individual,

corporation, or product.” Ed McMahon

• Be dependableComplete assigned tasks correctly

and promptly

Traits of a Preferred Employee

• Be loyal Speak positively about the company

• Be willing to learn Look to improve your skills

Traits of a Preferred Employee

Work Ethics

Working towards a goal requires cooperation and respect

TEAM WORK

• Be a team playerThe ability to get along with others – including those you don’t necessarily like

• Leadership abilitiesThe ability to be led and/or to

become the leader

Traits of a Preferred Employee

• Be a contributing memberThe ability to carry your own weight and help others who are struggling

• Accept compromise

Recognize when to speak up with an idea and when to compromise by

blending ideas together

Traits of a Preferred Employee

Work Ethics

Clothing…Hygiene…Manners

PROFESSIONAL IMAGE

• Dress Appropriately Create a positive image

Set your best foot forward

• Personal hygiene

Traits of a Preferred Employee

• Good manners- Hand shake- Demeanor- Eye contact

Remember that the first impression of who you are can last a lifetime

Traits of a Preferred Employee

Work Ethics

Be Positive…You can do it!

ATTITUDE

• Have a good attitudeListen to suggestionsBe positive

• Accept responsibility for one’s workIf you make a mistake, admit it

Traits of a Preferred Employee

Work Ethics

Make good use of working hours

PRODUCTIVITY

• Do the work correctly Quality and timeliness are prized

• Get along with co-workersCooperation is the key to productivity

Traits of a Preferred Employee

• Help out whenever askedDo “extras” without being asked

• Take pride in your workDo things in the best way with the

highest quality that you can achieve

Traits of a Preferred Employee

Work Ethics

The key to getting your tasks done on time

ORGANISATIONAL SKILLS

• Make an effort to improveLearn ways to better yourself

• Time ManagementUtilise time and resources to get the

most out of both

Traits of a Preferred Employee

Work Ethics

Working together to achieve more

COOPERATION

• Follow company rules and policiesLearn and follow expectations

• Get along with co-workersCooperation is the key to productivity

• Appreciate privileges and don’t abuse them

Privileges are favors and benefits

Traits of a Preferred Employee

Work Ethics

Be sensitive to Racial and Cultural differences

RESPECT

• Work hardWork to the best of your ability

• Carry out assigned tasksDo what’s asked the first time

• Show respect Accept and acknowledge an

individual’s talents and knowledge

Traits of a Preferred Employee

Why People Lose Their Jobs:

• They get retrenchedJob loss not their fault

• They get firedJob lost because of their actions

Common Reasons Why Employees are Fired

Reasons the Law upholds as “just cause” for firing

Reasons Employees are FiredAttendance

• Being late or absent from workShows lack of responsibilityCan hinder productivity

Reasons Employees are FiredCharacter

• Being dishonestTrust, once lost, is hard to regain

• Being unreliableDependability is an employee asset

• Abusing drugs or alcoholCan create health/safety issues

Reasons Employees are FiredTeam Work

• Bossing others aroundGiving orders is the boss’s job

• Not carrying your weightNot doing your part – relying on others to

do your job for you

Reasons Employees are FiredAppearance

• Dress CodeThis can be a safety issue as well as a

disregard for rules

Remember that as a representative of the company, how you dress and act can affect the

company’s image.

Reasons Employees are FiredAttitude

• Being troublemakersStirring up dissent among othersCausing arguments and problems

• Being rude and using abusive languageInappropriate behavior is inexcusable

• Gossiping Causes poor work environment (morale) Lowers Productivity

Reasons Employees are FiredProductivity

• Failing to do the task properlyCostly errors hurt business

• Being lazyIt’s a theft of time

• Being carelessCan lead to accidents/ loss of profits

Reasons Employees are FiredOrganisational Skills

• Loosing Tools & MaterialsUnable to locate things

• Lack of Time ManagementNot meeting deadlines

• UnpreparedNot ready for meetings or presentations

Reasons Employees are FiredCooperation

• Not getting along with othersCo-workers, boss, and/or customers

• Failing to follow rules and policiesNot following instructions“Doing your own thing”

Reasons Employees are FiredRespect

• Being disrespectful

Argumentative and confrontational

• Making fun of, harassing, or discriminating against others

This could also land in court!

• Being dissatisfied all the timework/pay/hours

• Theft

• IncompetenceLack of ability to perform assigned tasks

Reasons Employees are FiredOther

If You’re Unsure

Before You Act -- ASK: • Is this legal?• Is it against company policy?• Could the action cause loss

or harm to anyone?• If everyone I knew saw me,

would I feel uncomfortable?

Learning Engineering At Polytechnics (LEAP)Date Event

16 October 2014 Engineering Discovery 2014

Jul to Oct 2014 Student Workshops:1. E1 Circuit Challenge2. Renewable Energy 3. The ARCH and Aircraft

Simulator4. AeroChallenge5. Fun With Gliders6. Muscial KeyBoard7. Blog-shop8. Fuel cell car 9. The Maze Solving

Mouse

9. Are U Smarter than Newton?

10.3D Printing11. Water Matrix12.Sound & Audio Amplifier13.Electricity and

ElectroMagnetism14.Green Building 15.Bull’s Eye Competition16.Vortex Ring Air Cannon

Engineering Discovery 2014

Workshop Synopses & Sign-up info

Learning Journeys for teachers (Engineering)

• CISCO Systems – 27 Aug 14 • Intelligent Transport System Centre (ITSC) – 27 Aug 14 • MAJ Aviation – 28 Aug 14 • Jet Aviation – 3 Sep 14

Parents Forum • Forum will be held on 15 Nov 14 at HDB Hub Convention

Centre

For more information about student workshops and educators’ learning journeys, please visit: http://www.engineering.edu.sg

Learning Journeys (Teachers)

AcknowledgementsAdapted from:

1. http://www.gacec.com/Staff/browns/Educator%20Links/Links%20folder/Work%20ethic.ppt

2. http://www.voced.iup.edu/PCEA/Resources/Ethics%20in%20the%20Workplace.ppt

3. http://mba.americaeconomia.com/sites/mba.americaeconomia.com/files/sin_publicar_ethics-in-workplace.ppt

Suggestions/ Feedback

Should you have any suggestions or feedback, please contact our ECG Guidance Officer,

Lee Jun Feng at:

Lee_jun_feng@moe.gov.sg

Thank you!