Does your teen work alone? Share these 9 safety tips to protect them on the job

When she was 17, Meagan Perry worked the night shift alone for most of a summer at a popular convenience store chain in Alberta. “I was working alone from 11 pm to 7 am,” says the now Toronto-based writer. She explains that plenty of scary things happened during her employment. “Another clerk was attacked on the night shift, and the store was robbed that summer while I was on shift.”

While working alone isn’t always as dangerous or scary as a solo night shift at a convenience store that has been robbed, it can still come with its own risks.

While no law in Ontario prevents people (including young workers) from having to work alone (or even work night shifts). The law instead states that teens must have access to education and employment shouldn’t take place during school hours.

However, Ontario law does require certain safety precautions for all workplaces. And on top of those precautions, there are several things you can talk to your kid about to make sure they are better prepared for working alone.

9 things your teen needs to know to stay safe while working alone 

1. Know their rights

   The number one thing your child can do to stay safe at work is to know their rights and stand up for them.  Ontario employers have a legal responsibility to take every reasonable precaution to protect their workers. There are many things that teens can do to encourage their employers to protect them. By law, employers must implement a workplace policy and program to address violence and harassment — this is one of the key hazards associated with working alone. If your kid’s employer is not complying with the workplace violence and workplace harassment legal requirements, workers may call this number.

2. Ask their employer to modify the workplace

   Teens can also ask their employer to modify the workplace to make it safer. Some examples of this include:

   • ensuring there is good visibility around the counter/desk by keeping displays low and surfaces clutter-free to help deter thefts or attacks

   • facing workstations towards the door so workers can see anyone entering the room

   • establishing a check-in procedure between supervisors and the lone worker, and

   • installing panic buttons.

3. Remind your kid that they can always call the police

   There is no such thing as overreacting when you feel unsafe. Let your child know that calling the police is always an option. Even if they don’t feel immediately threatened by someone, if they notice someone lurking in or around their workplace, or if there is even a slight feeling of feeling threatened or unsafe, they can and should call the police.

4. Get away from threatening situations

   Whatever their job may be, teens can recognize the things that are NOT their job. It’s never their job to get into a physical altercation, an argument or “protect” their workplace. They are allowed to walk away from dangerous or threatening situations, even if they feel like working alone makes it their responsibility to be there. In Perry’s case, working alone at the convenience store when it was robbed, it wasn’t her job to interfere. Whatever kept her safe was the most important thing.

5. Make your safety other people’s business

   Working alone doesn’t mean your teen has to feel alone. Their safety is not solely their responsibility. They can stay in regular contact with coworkers and supervisors during their shift to let them know that they’re ok, when something feels off, or when they have a bad feeling about something. They can talk to their supervisor or manager about calling them at regular intervals just to be sure of their continued safety.

6. Rely on friends and loved ones as backup

   Working late? Teens can let their friends or family know what time they plan to leave, how they’re getting home, how they’ll stay in contact and ask for help getting home safely if they’re feeling uncomfortable.

7. Emergency procedures exist for a reason: use them!

   Every workplace should have emergency procedures and plans (if they don’t, that’s a red flag). These procedures are a reflection of best practices in emergency situations and they should always be followed in order to stay safe. Check out this post on what your kid should know about emergencies at work.

8. Report everything (even if it seems small)

   Whether it’s a major incident or something that almost happened (but didn’t) it’s always worth reporting. Examples include a customer making them uncomfortable, a person loitering around in or near their workplace, a lack of protective equipment, or lack of access to a phone or communication. All of these things should be reported to your teen’s employer.

9. Be proactive and vent with co-workers

   This might be the one thing your teens do without you having to tell them—but it’s absolutely essential that teens have an outlet to complain and vent about workplace issues with fellow employees. Not only is it a healthy way to manage frustration, but it can also bring issues to light that need to be addressed with management. Even when teens are working alone, it doesn’t mean they don’t have fellow co-workers who experience similar struggles.