Nice work if you can get it

Keelia fitzpatrick from the young workers centre helps us figure out how not to get stuck in a shit job.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT If you’re asked in an interview which team you bat for, whether you have kids, or big plans for your reproductive bits any time soon, that’s not just awkward chit-chat, it’s also illegal. “Our Anti-discrimination Act states that a person can’t be discriminated against for a job on the basis of age, race, sexuality, parenthood status or any other thing that has nothing to do with the actual tasks they’d be responsible for,” Keelia says. “Legally, an employer isn’t allowed to ask about any of these things, in relation to your application or your employment in general.” That first interview can also help you suss out the vibe about a place, so keep your eye out for any warning signs. Does your interviewer look about as inspired as a steamed dim sim sitting in a switched-off bain-marie? Do they use phrases like, “We work hard and play hard”? (Translation: we’ll work the bejesus out of you, then shame you if you don’t attend Friday night drinks and laugh at our jokes.) According to Keelia, other flaming red flags include “dissing your predecessor in the role, and wriggling out of answering questions about career progression and professional development opportunities”.

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY To be clear: payment means actual money. As the world doesn’t subsist in a gift-based economy, it’s not OK for the pub owner who’s hired you for an acoustic set to pay you in beer and chicken parmas. You can’t pay your rent with a piece of golden fried poultry, so don’t be shy – whether the pay rate is advertised or not, ask before you apply. “There are pretty clear laws stating what the minimum wage is; what the penalty rates are for weekends and public holidays; and how much superannuation you should be getting,” Keelia says. “If the boss tells you they can’t afford to pay their staff the minimum award or penalty rates, that’s basically them saying, ‘I’m going to steal a bit from you every single hour you work for me. And on weekends, I’m going to steal a little bit more.’” You could also ask your potential new boss whether they provide pay slips. If not, chances are you’re off the books. “If you’re getting cash in hand or a pay slip that doesn’t contain a breakdown of your ordinary rate plus penalty rates, super and tax, they’re probably not calculating any of those things,” Keelia explains.

CURIOUS ABOUT CULTURE Walking into a workplace with a culture of extensive overtime, unchecked bullying or bigoted humour could be as risky to your health and wellbeing as slips, trips and physical hazards. It’s trickier to suss this out in advance – but not impossible, Keelia says. “When you inquire about the job, just ask straight up: ‘How would you describe the work culture here? What do you value, as a team? What’s the expectation of unpaid overtime, and do you encourage people to leave on time and take breaks? Do you have policies on bullying and sexual harassment, and can you give me an example of how you’ve put these into practice?’” Chances are, if they’re not thoughtful and proactive about setting a positive workplace culture, they won’t have much to say about it. “Culture and values need to be articulated and enforced, so find out if that’s happening.” If you’re offered a role but want to suss out who you’ll be working with, you could organise to go for a coffee or visit the office before you make a call. After all, you’ll be spending a lot of time with these humans, and as current employees, they can give you a (hopefully) honest account.

EXPLORING THE NEW DIGS You probably wouldn’t sign a lease on a new home without at least checking out some pictures, so why not take a look at the place you’ll be spending most of your working week? “You’re entitled to know what the setup is, so ask

for a tour before you seal the deal,” Keelia says. “I’d be asking myself: is this workspace safe, practical, appropriate and, finally, would I actually be happy to work here, day in, day out?” You can also get a sense of dress code while you’re there – a detail that could matter more than you might think. “It seems superficial,” Keelia says, “but it can tell you a lot about who you’re working for, especially in industries like hospitality, which is rife with outdated and totally sexist notions of how female employees, in particular, should look.” Again, it’s something you can broach with your interviewer – if they suggest ‘less is more’ but you’re not actually applying for a life modelling gig, walk away. If you’re required to don something that could jeopardise your wellbeing – think high heels when you’re waiting tables all night – again, you might want to give it a miss.

SAFETY FIRST Occupational health and safety is about more than hard hats and closed-toe shoes. “Find out what kind of training your employer plans to provide,” Keelia says. “It’s their job to make sure you have support and know the procedures to work safely, so they legally have to provide those things – especially if you’re working with anything hot, heavy, dangerous, or money-related.” It’s also on them to give you the gear you need to do your job risk-free. If you broach these topics in advance, only to be met with a blank face, count that as a sign of how much (or little) they’ve got your back. Meanwhile, if you’re in one of those cash-in-hand roles we mentioned, it’s worth noting you’re less likely to have quick access to Workcover if you’re injured on the job. “Even though they still have a legal duty of care, they’re not going to be falling over themselves to put in a claim if you’re not even meant to exist,” Keelia says. SIGNING ON THE DOTTED LINE Before you dive head-first into a new job, you need something signed off by your boss that outlines the basics of what you’re in for – like what your role entails (to avoid any rude shocks on day one); where you’ll be working (so you can plan your trip from home); how much you get paid; your start and finish times, plus breaks; and what terms you’re being employed on (is it casual, contract, full-time?). “This is something you should totally ask for to help you decide whether to accept the job,” Keelia says. “It’ll give you a pretty good insight into what you can expect, and it’s in writing, so they can’t claim something different down the line. Don’t be afraid to ask for more detail if it’s light on in any of those non-negotiable areas.”

THE PACKAGE DEAL Overall, a job hunt is about knowing your worth, and not entering a situation that could ultimately do you harm – physically, mentally, emotionally or financially. “If you think of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs – survival down the bottom, fulfilment up top – the basic needs should be taken care of first in a workplace,” Keelia says. “Even if you don’t have high expectations of fulfilment from the job you’re doing right now, you deserve, at the very least, to get the minimum wages and entitlements that our legal systems provide to all workers.” There’s no point campaigning your boss for beanbags, nap pods and a cat-petting relaxation room if your basic workplace is unsafe or everyone’s being underpaid. Laws around fair pay and safe working conditions haven’t just magically materialised – they’ve been fought for by generations of trade union activists. “These rights and entitlements are only meaningful if we’re prepared to put them into practice and hold people – usually bosses – to account,” Keelia says.