Work Environments

Tips to Cultivate a Positive Work Environment

The following are some simple guidelines that may help to make your student work experience both positive and rewarding. 

• Dependability is crucial. 
• Be sure to inform your supervisor as early as possible of changes in your availability. 
• General guidance concerning confidentiality: any information you have access to on the job, which you would not have access to any other way, should be considered confidential. 
• Be sure to call in when you're sick. (It's a matter of courtesy.) 
• You deserve to be treated with respect and dignity - as do your co-workers. 
• Take your job seriously and have pride in what you do. The department depends on you to perform the tasks you were hired to do. 
• When you finalize your travel plans for breaks, be sure to let your supervisor know when you're leaving and when you'll be back. 
• Take the initiative - offer assistance. 
• In many departments, you represent the College. In fact, you may be the first, even the only, person from Dartmouth with whom an individual will ever have contact. In these service positions, be sure to always remain professional and courteous. 
• In general, work time is not social time - please be mindful of this in terms of making personal calls, having visitors and/or using personal devices. 
• Be sure you understand what is expected of you. Continue to ask about your responsibilities as often as necessary. 
• At the first indication of an issue or problem, discuss it with your supervisor. Open communication is the key to success.

Student Employee Problem Resolution Process

Most work-related problems experienced by students can be resolved quickly, informally, and fairly at the level at which they arise. Students are encouraged to bring the matter to the attention of their immediate supervisor(s), who should work with the student to expeditiously resolve the matter to the mutual satisfaction of those involved, and in a manner consistent with College policies and practices. 

If a student employee is experiencing difficulty at the workplace, it is important for the student employee to discuss the issue(s) with their supervisor. It is perfectly acceptable for a student employee to request a meeting with their supervisor to discuss: 

• job knowledge and training needs 
• scheduling conflicts 
• interpersonal issues or conflicts in the workplace 
• other factors that may be affecting work performance

In the event that the student employee’s concerns involve their work relationship or communications with their supervisor, or their attempts to resolve the issue with their supervisor have not resulted in a mutually agreeable solution, the student may choose to pursue the matter directly with the department head. At any time during the process, the student, supervisor, or department head may request that the Student Employment Office attempt to facilitate resolution of the matter. Such requests should be made to the Student Employment Office, which will serve as liaison to the Director of Employee Relations or Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity, as applicable.

Requests should be in writing, providing a summary of the problem, the efforts (if any) made to resolve the problem, and the ultimate result of those efforts. The Director of Employee Relations or a designee will hear both sides of the dispute and obtain such other information as is deemed appropriate to reach a resolution in a manner consistent with College policies and practices. 

Nothing contained in this process is intended to alter the at-will employment relationship between the College and its employees or to create legally enforceable contractual rights. Despite the availability of the corrective action process, the College reserves the right to terminate a student’s employment at any time when it is in the College’s best interests to do so, as determined by the supervisor in consultation with the Student Employment Office as necessary.