Business Communication and Workplace Culture in Ontario

1. Business Communication andWorkplace Culture in Ontario TESL Ontario Conference SBG 11:30-1:00pm December 12, 2009 Katrin Jakob Alaves inmycase@hotmail.com Business Communication & Workplace Culture in Ontario

2. Background Information St. 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 Business Communication & Workplace Culture in Ontario

3. Goals of the Business Communication and Workplace Culture in OntarioCourses(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 withcommon 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 Business Communication & Workplace Culture in Ontario

4. These Courses Provide the Participants With: • 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. • Tips on how to improve their pronunciation, especially with the guidance of a knowledgeable facilitator. • Collections of idioms or jargon with examples of how these expressions can be used at work. • Opportunities to take part in various forms of “role-plays” as well as games or activities that are actually used at some companies. Business Communication & Workplace Culture in Ontario

5. The Purpose of This Workshop 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. Business Communication & Workplace Culture in Ontario

6. Sample Highlights from Part 1 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 Business Communication & Workplace Culture in Ontario

7. Sample Class Plans from Part 2“Professionalism in Canada” 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 Business Communication & Workplace Culture in Ontario

8. Sample Class Plans from Part 2“Business Ethics” Relations between different companies Intellectual Property, Knowledge + Skills Company Shareholders Employer Employees Production Business Ethics On a local, national and international scale (Wikipedia) Leadership issues Business Politics Sales and Marketing Accounting Practices Business Communication & Workplace Culture in Ontario

9. “Business Ethics”Dilemma 1 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”) Business Communication & Workplace Culture in Ontario

10. “Business Ethics” Dilemma 2 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 onwww.onlineethics.org) Business Communication & Workplace Culture in Ontario

11. “Business Ethics” Dilemma 3 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) Business Communication & Workplace Culture in Ontario

12. “Business Ethics”Dilemma 4 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”) Business Communication & Workplace Culture in Ontario

13. “Business Ethics”Employer Loses 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]. Business Communication & Workplace Culture in Ontario

14. “Business Ethics”Employer Wins 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]. Business Communication & Workplace Culture in Ontario

15. “Business Ethics” PossibleResponse to Dilemma #4 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) Business Communication & Workplace Culture in Ontario

16. “Business Ethics” AnotherPossibleResponse 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) Business Communication & Workplace Culture in Ontario

17. Class Plans of Part 2“You and the Boss” Sample Class Plans from Part 2“You & The Boss” 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? Business Communication & Workplace Culture in Ontario

18. Business Communication andWorkplace Culture in Ontario Thank you! All the best for a healthy and happy New Year… and decade! inmycase@hotmail.com Business Communication & Workplace Culture in Ontario