Shipyards have very specific requirements for employees to follow, whether they are new hires or longtime employees. If you do not follow the rules, you will be finding a new job very shortly. The following is a list of the top five things that any employee, especially a new hire, needs to know to make a good impression at work.
1. Arrive at work on time with proper attire, safety gear and badges
When anyone shows up late, it hurts production. When someone is not properly dressed, it is either distracting or can be harmful should his or her clothes get in the way while working. Wearing proper safety gear is essential because a shipyard is a dangerous place to work. The correct badge is required to access the turnstile so the correct time is recorded for each individual. Also, there are badges that show proper VSRA and OSHA training that is required of every company that hires people. Without all four of these parts, a new employee will struggle just to get through the first days of work. Being aware of the dates when badges expire is crucial because if a badge has expired, you will not be working until it is renewed, however long that may take.
2. Don’t bring a cell phone to work
Shipyards do not allow people to have phones at work, especially those with a camera. If a bag is checked and a camera phone is found, it can be confiscated, kept or destroyed, depending on who sees it and why it is an issue. If you have a phone on your person and it is found, you are either suspended or fired, depending on whoever finds out you have a phone during working hours. If your phone falls out of your pocket on a ship and the captain sees it, your job is over — no questions asked.
3. Sign in correctly
Each company gathers the hours for its employees in different ways. Some use timesheets, and some use pocket clocks that each person punches in when he or she arrives at work. For the printed timesheets, it is very important to sign in when you arrive at work with a legible signature so that when the timekeeper looks at the sheet, he or she knows who is working on that day. Handling payroll is an important part of any company, and if you do not do your part to make sure you are paid correctly, the correction will show up on the following paycheck once the proper information is obtained. Paydays at shipyards are weekly, usually on Fridays. The most important thing you can do every week is show up at work on payday and get paid. If you call out on payday, it makes a very bad impression on your supervisor.
4. Notify your employer in advance if you cannot work
This is the bane of most supervisors’ existence. Each supervisor needs a certain number of people to get work done, and if an adequate number of people are not there, production grinds to a halt until enough people arrive. When employees are supposed to show up for work and they do not, there is usually a policy around a three-day, no-call, no-show policy. After that time, their employment is terminated.
4. Park and smoke in designated areas
Unfortunately, parking is always a problem at shipyards, especially near the main gate. All subcontractors are supposed to park in designated lots. If you do not park in the proper place, your car will be towed at your expense. There are smoking areas, and those need to be adhered to, with no discussion. You cannot smoke just anywhere — certainly not on the ship. If you are caught smoking in a non-designated place, you can be terminated.
If you put these tips to use, you will be well on your way to making a good impression at your new job.
About the Author
Carol Bronson has been employed at Allied Research Technology, Inc. since November 2011. She was initially the Finance Manager, responsible for paying the bills and the payroll. Her responsibilities have increased over the years and now include human resources, workers’ compensation claims, unemployment paperwork and new employee interviews. She finds that her psychology degree has come in handy when employees come to her for personal issues.