No orientation means sweating our way through those first shifts

My first real job, at 16, was working as a sandblaster of large tanks in an oil refinery. The contractor that hired me gave me an orientation period of 10 minutes. The swing bridge that held me up 60 feet in the air was held in place by nylon rope. My work entailed holding onto a pressure hose of 200 lbs. psi - with only a pair of gloves and a wire mask! I quit on the second day.

The next day, the worker who replaced me cut off a part of his right hand.

How did you feel the first day of your first job? Most of us sweated our way through those shifts - trying to get off to a good start without looking out of place. Where are the harzards? What do I wear? Who do I talk to? Does my boss care?

When I talk to parents and students across North America, I try to emphasize the importance of Orientation and Training - I call it "OT."

By law, adequate training is mandatory for every employee.

Workplace orientation is not legally mandated - so all the more reason to insist on it!

Sadly, workplace orientation is not a legal requirement (yet). However, great companies never miss a chance to get new recruits familiar with their safe surroundings and new peers, therby reinforcing to the new employee why he/she took the job.

But... most small companies and contractors neglect the orientation period. "It's not in our tight budget," they say. So they spend more time dealing with turnover, constantly dealing with advertising and hiring and training.

Unfortunately these are usually the companies that most young people cut their working teeth on!

Not offering orientation is a complete lack of recognition of the importance of getting off to the right start - not to mention a lack of respect for your employees. That better change in a hurry.

I strongly advise all new employees that if companies don't have an orientation program –take your talents and work for an employer who does!

If you still don't believe that orientation should be mandatory - try dropping over to our plant unannounced; the plant orientation begins after you find me (we just purchased two hungry Doberman pincers as our business mascots). Bon chance, my friend.