Do you recall your first job? Mine was in a monogramming shop on Galveston Island’s Strand with two other girlfriends from my high school. The shop owner was a cross between a surrogate mother and a high school friend. I truly enjoyed my first job and gained a variety of skills that I still use in my current profession. My experience is what I hope for all other youths looking to land their first job. Unfortunately, this hope is not reality and many may enter the job market only to be harassed, discriminated against, injured or otherwise treated unfairly. It is because of this harsh reality that TYLA seeks to protect students through TYLA’s latest attempt to educate Texas’ high school students.

This winter TYLA is releasing a new DVD titled: “You’re Hired! Now What? Knowing Your Legal Rights On Your First Job.” This DVD aims to teach Texas’ youngest workforce about their rights and responsibilities in today’s workplace. TYLA wants Texas students to be responsible and informed employees.

“You’re Hired! Now What?” strives to teach students about discriminatory or unfair workplace environments through several video vignettes where school age actors and actresses depict certain scenarios. TYLA attempts to teach students about employment discrimination involving:

• Unfair treatment because of the student’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, disability, or age (age 40 or older).
• Harassment by managers, co-workers, or others in the workplace, because of the student’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, disability, or age (age 40 or older).
• Denial of a reasonable workplace change that the student needs due to religious beliefs or disability.
• Retaliation because the student complained about job discrimination, or assisted with a job discrimination investigation or lawsuit.
• Worker’s Compensation due to an on the job accident suffered by the student.
• Wage and Hour requirements.

TYLA seeks not only to teach students about their rights in the workplace but also their responsibilities. Through the “You’re Hired! Now What?” video, TYLA informs students about their rights and responsibilities if they have been harassed, discriminated against, injured or otherwise treated unfairly by an employer, co-worker or business patron. The “You’re Hired! Now What?” video provides students with resource information if they need additional guidance. The “You’re Hired! Now What?” video is a complete guide for students entering the summer or full-time workforce.

TYLA aims to get “You’re Hired! Now What?” video shown in area high schools during the Spring 2008 semester. TYLA officers and directors will be on hand to discuss the video with students after its presentation. TYLA is hoping to reach as many students as possible before they seek summer employment. If you know of a school interested in obtaining the video and/or TYLA assistance, please contact the TYLA office at tyla@texasbar.com. Thank you in advance for your help in getting the word out about TYLA’s newest video.