As young people prepare to embark on their future career, they should know what to expect from an employer, what their rights are and what to do if something should go wrong. Equally, they should be prepared to understand how to deliver on their responsibilities to their employer – it is a two-way street.
It can all seem very daunting, with lots of jargon and corporate documents to understand, such as contracts of employment, HR policies, appraisals and workplace performance processes.
EmployabilityUK is committed to raising confidence and work readiness for young people, so we have teamed up with Acas – which stands for the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, a government-funded service.
The result is an easy-to-read and helpful question-and-answer guide which is available to young people attending EmployabilityUK programmes via our online portal. This guide provides answers to the questions young people ask, for example: what is the minimum wage? How much holiday am I entitled to? It provides examples of workplace scenarios that may be encountered, along with signposting to the wealth of information and contact details provided by Acas.
EmployabilityUK CEO Di Vernon said: “We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Natalie Goring from Acas for sharing our vision and commitment to preparing young people for a positive future. We are delighted with the result, which will be an important resource for building knowledge and future reference.”
Whatever your future career – know your rights.
Please also take a look at the Acas website, acas.org.uk, where you will find a wealth of information and advice. Remember, you can telephone Acas for clear, confidential, independent and impartial advice on 0300 123 1100. The helpline is available Monday to Friday, 8am–6pm, or you can use the Acas Helpline Online.
