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Business Communication & Workplace Culture in Ontario

Business Communication and Workplace Culture in Ontario

TESL Ontario Conference

SBG 11:30-1:00pm

December 12, 2009

Katrin Jakob Alaves

[email protected]


Background Information

St. George’s Centre for ESLSt. George’s Centre for ESL is located in Guelph (pop. 120,000). It is an adult LINC and ESL school which is part of the Continuing Education program of the Upper Grand District School Board.

This is the profile of the students who attend the courses that I facilitate: Most of them have post secondary education and beyond The majority have CLB level 6 of English or higher Many of them are working, or have worked, in Canada

already


Goals of the Business Communication and Workplace Culture in Ontario

Courses (as presented to the participants)

1) To improve your English language skills by: a) checking your pronunciation of the

words that you already know b) expanding your vocabulary with

jargon and idiomatic expressions commonly used at the workplace

2) To present you with practical advice on how to deal with common situations at work (ex. participating in meetings, leaving messages, approaching difficult co-workers, etc.)

3) To offer you some cultural insights into what makes your co-workers in Ontario tick


1. Information that all people joining the “world of work” would benefit from, including advice on how to handle challenging situations, such as office politics, integration and problem solving.

2. Tips on how to improve their pronunciation, especially with the guidance of a knowledgeable facilitator.

3. Collections of idioms or jargon with examples of how these expressions can be used at work.

4. Opportunities to take part in various forms of “role-plays” as well as games or activities that are actually used at some companies.

These Courses Provide the Participants With:


The aim of this workshop is to show you how I approached teaching this kind of Specialized Language Training course.

The sample class plans we will mainly focus on are “Professionalism in Canada” and “Business Ethics” because they demonstrate how “big” topics can be presented in a practical, cohesive and meaningful way.

The Purpose of This Workshop


From lesson #1 “Networking & Making

Connections” Setting the tone for the course

From lesson #2 “Work Habits & Office Politics” Review game

From lesson #3 “At Meetings” The overall structure

Sample Highlights from Part 1


OUTLINE:

Warm-up - Brainstorming

Task 1 – Questions for reflection

Task 2 – Marshmallow game

Task 3 (Optional) – Discussion: How to increase professionalism at the workplace

Task 4 – Idiomatic expressions related to the topic of money

Closing remarks

Sample Class Plans from Part 2

“Professionalism in Canada”



“Business Ethics”

Intellectual Property, Knowledge + Skills

Business EthicsOn a local, national and

international scale (Wikipedia)

Company

Shareholders

Relations between different companiesEmployer

Employees

Leadership issues

Production

Sales and

MarketingAccounting

Practices

Business

Politics


I’m an employee of a cable company. I have seen a co-

worker take inventory from the stock room. I think he

sells it to make an extra buck. As far as I know, he’s

been doing this for the past two years. Otherwise, he’s

a model employee. I’m not in danger of losing my job,

but, of course, my co-worker would be fired immediately

if the boss found out about these thefts. He’s had this

job for years and he has three kids that rely on him.

Should I report him or should I mind my own business?

(Adapted from a scenario presented in the Globe & Mail in a column called “Workplace Ethics 101”)


Dilemma 1


Last Monday, we closed a deal with a customer who

ordered 2000 custom-made parts. The price we agreed

on is $75.00 per piece. Yesterday, one of our engineers

told me that we could substitute one of the materials for

the part with a much less expensive metal alloy. She

explained that this substitution would hardly affect the

performance of the part, it just might not last quite as

long. If we use the substitution, we would save $10.00 in

the production cost which means we could earn more from

the order. The customer would still get a high quality

product and wouldn’t necessarily notice any change.

It’s a win-win situation, right?

(This scenario is adapted from one that was found on www.onlineethics.org)


Dilemma 2


I’m an engineer. One of my responsibilities is to oversee the purchasing of spare parts for my department. Last week, a representative from one of the suppliers and I were talking about our holiday plans. I told him that I was planning to go north and rent a cottage for a week. He then told me about his cottage and said that I could stay there. He said that he wasn’t in the habit of renting it to strangers and that it wasn’t a business for him. There isn’t anything wrong with this offer, is there?

And, yesterday, another rep brought me a bottle of wine from the Niagara region where her hometown is. I can keep it, right? After all, it’s not worth a significant amount of money. (The first part is adapted from a scenario

presented in www.onlineethics.org)


Dilemma 3


About a month ago, I started a job in a different city.

So far, this company has been very accommodating –

they even paid for the moving expenses and my stay

at a hotel during the first week. However, I just got a

job offer from a company in my hometown where all

my friends and family live. Should I quit this job and

move back?

(Adapted from a scenario presented in the Globe & Mail in a column called “Workplace Ethics 101”)


Dilemma 4


FACTS: An Ontario manufacturer installs machine guards to block workers’ access to a sheet metal press. The guards don’t completely surround the machine. A narrow gap affords access to a moving part. But a worker would have to make a determined effort to squeeze through the gap. The company warns workers not to do this. A worker disobeys and is fatally injured. The company denies responsibility for the accident.

DECISION: The court finds the company guilty of violating machine guarding regulations.

REASONS: The company didn’t exercise due diligence, the court rules. It should have completely blocked access to the moving part. True, access was restricted and difficult to accomplish, but the company should have foreseen that some worker would be idiotic enough to try. “The scheme of the (OSH) Act appears to be to protect the foolish, heedless, thoughtless employee”, the court reasons. “The wise, careful and thoughtful ones will protect themselves.”

[R.V. Commodore Business Machines, Ont. Prov. Ct. unreported decision, Nov. 15, 1985].


Employer Loses


FACTS: An Ontario paper manufacturer shows a worker how to operate a printer-slotter machine and orders him never to try and clean the machine while it’s in motion. The worker disobeys and suffers a serious injury. The company denies responsibility for the accident.

DECISION: The court finds the company not guilty of OHS charges.

REASONS: According to the court, the company did exercise due diligence. A company must take reasonable precautions to carry on the business safely. But once it does that, the court continues, it shouldn't be held responsible for every violation, especially if the violation is caused by the worker’s deliberate disobeying of orders. “How can [the company] prevent a violation solely within the worker’s control, where the worker does the prohibited act intentionally, negligently or through his own inadvertence?’ asked the court.

[R.v. Z-H Paper Products Ltd., 27 O.R. (2d) 570, 1979].


Employer Wins


Although it may be tempting to move back, I feel the person has an obligation to stay at the position in the new city. He/She should remember why they took the job in the first place:

• It was an opportunity to try a new job in a new place;• It was a chance to move onward and upward;• It was a chance to be on their own.

“New” can be frightening but it should also be challenging. If I were the owner of the hometown company, I’m not sure I’d want this person if they can so easily be swayed to change their minds.- Georgia Youngs, Markham, Ont. (Globe and Mail “Workplace Ethics 101” 2002)


Possible Response to Dilemma #4


The choice here is obviously between two good situations, but one offers some personal benefits such as being closer to family and friends. That is a value cherished by many. However, you have accepted employment for which the employer has made a substantial contribution in relocation and accommodation expenses. That was an investment made by the employer in good faith.

If you choose to accept the new offer of employment, it would be important that in reciprocal good faith the present employer be compensated for the cost of relocation and accommodation.

-Phil Little, Toronto (Globe and Mail “Workplace Ethics 101” 2002)


Another Possible Response to Dilemma #4


Key sources: ivillage.co.uk/workcareer/survive

(“9 Ways to Get Your Boss To Love You”)

www.workplacedoctors.com (How to Ask for a Raise by Dan West)

Key question:

What motivates my boss and how does it influence the way that I communicate with him/her?

Class Plans of Part 2“You and the Boss”


“You & The Boss”


Business Communication and Workplace Culture in Ontario

Thank you!

All the best for a healthy and happy New Year… and decade!

[email protected]

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