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Dress Appropriately

Look at how others dress to see what is appropriate clothing. You should attempt to match the look of the workplace. If in doubt, dress conservatively! You should also dress conservatively for job interviews; even if the workplace dress is casual, you should dress somewhat formally for the interview. During the interview you can ask about the style of dress required for your particular job.

Do as the Others Do

U.S. Citizens shake hands often, and do not kiss cheeks as often as other nationalities. Shake hands firmly. Try not to be too quiet, as people in the U.S. often enjoy seeing emotional reactions, and a reserved attitude may suggest that you are unfriendly.

If you have agreed to work a certain amount of time for your employer, you should keep your promise. Employers, especially those involved with

summer or winter tourism, rely on theirДstaff to work until the agreed date.

If you do end up leaving your job before the agreed date, you should give two weeks written notice before leaving.

Be Enthusiastic and Flexible А

Have a positive attitude towards the job you accept. Participants who arrive to work with "wrong" expectationsбirritate employers. Employers are looking for workers who are enthusiastic and willing to learn. Flexibility, enthusiasm, and teamworkиare very important in the U.S. workplace. Without these, you risk losing your job.

Сhttp://www.ciee.org/wat/working/characteristics.html

61. Complete the following statements:

1. The ultimate goal in the U.S. workplace is……………… 2. If you don’t know what to put on, dress …………………

3. It is not acceptable to be …………………

4. People may think you are unfriendly if you ……………………

5. Talk with your colleagues during …………………

6. You should keep your ……………………

7. ……………………. Are very important in the U.S. workplace.

62. Design a poster showing main rules of successful work in the USA.

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63. What do you know about life in the USA? Share your ideas with the group.

Life

in the USA

As a general rule, tip approximatelyА15%Д- 20% for restaurants, taxi cabs, and other services. If you бreceive assistance at the airport of hotel with your luggage, tip $1-2 USD per bag.

64. Read the following text and add some ideas to your mind map.

Typical businessиhours for offices in the U.S. are from 8:00 or 9:00 am to 5:00 or 6:00 pm, with one hour taken for lunch. A lunch hour is usually taken between 12:00 and 2:00pm, but may vary. Shops and stores will often be open for longer hours and do not close over the lunch hour.

Illegal possessionСof controlled substances (drugs) in the USA is subject to prosecution by law. The penalties for drug possession vary from state to state and region to region. Any type of illegal drug use is seriously frowned upon, as the U.S. is attempting to control the trafficking of illegal substances. You are subject to fines and possible time in jail for any drug possession or association with people who have drugs themselves.

Important Laws

Drugs

Alcohol

You must be 21 years old to drink alcohol legally in the United States. If you are under 21, and are found with alcohol, you may be arrested and subjected to fines. In addition, if you purchase alcohol for persons under 21, you can be arrested and subjected to fines.

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Many bars will only accept a driver's license or identification card from the Department of Motor Vehicles which states your age. This identification card does not authorize you to drive. Contact the Department of Motor Vehicles for information on the procedure for obtaining an identification card. Drinking alcohol in public (e.g., outside a restaurant, bar, or your residence) is prohibited in many places, especially in beach resort towns. You will be subject to fines if you are found guilty.

Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) or Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

A national campaign to raise awareness of "drunk driving" and decrease alcohol-related traffic accidents has swept the U.S. Because of this, the enforcement of DWI/DUI laws has become very tough. Fines can be up

to $5,000. To keep yourself and others safe, don't drink and drive. Americans generally appoint a "designated driver" whenИgoing out with a group

of friends. This person agrees to refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages

and drives the rest of the group to and fromДtheir destination.

Local Law Enforcement

Unlike most countries, laws in the U.S. vary from state to state and

only a few thousand, but duringбАthe summer months, the population may grow to more than 100,000.иIn an effort to maintain order, the local police often strictly enforce minor laws. Local laws govern alcohol consumption, noise levels, andСgroup gatherings are strict. Your best source of infor-

even city to city. It is important to become familiar with and obey the local

laws in the town or city where you are living, to avoid any potential legal

difficulties. For example, the permanent population of resort towns may be

mation will be local residents and U.S. students who are living and working in the town or city.

Smoking

Americans are likely to be much less tolerant of smoking than people in your country. As part of an intense anti-smoking campaign in the United States, tough measures have been taken to provide a smoke-free environment. It is illegal to smoke in many public places, so look around you before you light up: "no smoking" signs are usually posted in a clear, visible location. Smoking is banned on all domestic and international air flights; it is restricted in many office buildings and restaurants, and usually prohibited on public transportation. If you are in someone else's house and no one else around you is smoking, ask whether they mind if you smoke.

Crime

The United States has a rather notorious reputation overseas for be-

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ing a violent country. Many people are often shocked at the proliferation of guns and gun-related crime. While it is true that crime rates are higher here than in Europe, few participants will encounter any such problems. Nonetheless, it is important to be aware of some of the potential dangers during your stay here. A little caution and common sense goes a long way in preventing problems.

http://www.ciee.org/wat/legal/laws.html

65. Give your advice how to avoid getting into trouble being abroad.

shoplifting or theft;

not budgeting extra money for housing deposits/initial living expenses,

- false identification.

solve it in a strictly professional manner. You are a new employee and may encounter problems that other co-workers have already experienced. Speak to them about these conflicts; perhaps they can help you resolve them quickly and harmlessly. In any job, you may meet people you do not like, or feel you cannot work with. You may find that speaking to the person directly will help take care of the problem.

Remember that sexual harassment and racial discrimination are very serious matters in the U.S. If you feel that you have been the victim of either sexual harassment or racial discrimination in your workplace, please contact the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC) at 1-800-669-4000 or CIEE (1-888-268-6245) for advice.

You could be laid off (lose your job because business is slow) for any number of reasons, which may not reflect on your performance in that

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job. Layoffs are often the result of financial issues within the company. You are usually given some kind of notice before this occurs.

If you are fired, it is because the company is unhappy with you. You will rarely be fired because of lack of job skills. Most often, people are fired for being consistently uncooperative, or for disciplinary reasons. If you are doing something wrong, you will usually be told so before the situation becomes serious. Contact CIEE about problem situations.

If you are laid off or fired, you MUST contact CIEE as soon as possible at 1-888-268-6245!

69. Student A is an employer, Student B is an employee. Discuss the salaries and additional payment (pic. 25) using the following text.

Getting Paid

Your Salary and Paycheck

You will most likely be paid weekly or sometimes twice per month. Check with your employer. You will always receive less than your "gross" or total salary, as there will be deductions taken out of each check. Your employer should give you a salary statement or pay stub or pay slip, which will explain exactly what was taken out. Depending on your agreement with your employer, you might also have uniform, housing, union membership dues, and other work-related items deducted from your salary.

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