Transcript 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]
Business Communication & Workplace
Culture in Ontario
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
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
Business Communication & Workplace
Culture in Ontario
These Courses Provide the Participants With:
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 “roleplays” as well as games or activities that are actually
used at some companies.
Business Communication & Workplace
Culture in Ontario
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
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
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
Sample Class Plans from Part 2
“Business Ethics”
Company
Intellectual Property,
Knowledge + Skills
Employer
Relations between
different companies
Shareholders
Employees
Production
Business Ethics
Leadership
issues
On a local, national and
international scale
(Wikipedia)
Sales
and
Marketing
Business
Accounting
Practices
Politics
Business Communication & Workplace
Culture in Ontario
“Business Ethics”
Dilemma 1
I’m an employee of a cable company. I have seen a coworker 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 coworker 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
“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 winwin situation, right?
(This scenario is
adapted from one that was found on www.onlineethics.org)
Business Communication & Workplace
Culture in Ontario
“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
“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
“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
“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
“Business Ethics”
Possible Response 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
“Business Ethics”
Another 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)
Business Communication & Workplace
Culture in Ontario
Sample
Plans
from 2
Part 2
ClassClass
Plans
of Part
“You and the Boss”
“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
Business Communication
and Workplace Culture in Ontario
Thank you!
All the best for a healthy and happy New Year…
and decade!
[email protected]
Business Communication & Workplace
Culture in Ontario