A chef looking confused.

What to do?

There will be some situations at work or at your co-op placement when you are not completely sure of what you should do. 

While you want to learn independence, certain situations go beyond typical workplace challenges. This is when you should reach out to your co-op teacher or to your trusted adult.  

Here are the most common scenarios where you should reach out to your co-op teacher or trusted adult:

1. Safety and Health Concerns

Your physical and emotional safety is the absolute priority. You should contact your teacher or truste adult immediately if:

• You are asked to perform tasks that feel unsafe or for which you haven’t been trained.

• The workplace lacks proper protective equipment (PPE).

• You witness or experience harassment, discrimination, or bullying.

• You are involved in a workplace accident, no matter how minor.

2. Significant Changes in Job Scope

It is normal for tasks to evolve and for the amount of work to vary from day-to-day or even hour-to-hour, but the placement must remain a learning experience. Talk to your co-op teacher or trusted adult if:

• The duties are vastly different from the initial job description or learning plan.

• You are only performing "grunt work" (e.g., exclusively shredding paper) with no educational value.

• The placement has run out of work for you to do, leaving you idle for long periods.

3. Interpersonal or Supervisory Issues

Sometimes professional relationships hit a wall. Seek advice from your co-op teacher or trusted adult if:

• Your designated supervisor is consistently absent or unavailable to provide guidance.

• You receive conflicting instructions from different staff members and don't know who to follow.

• You feel you are being treated unfairly compared to other employees or students.

4. Ethical or Legal Red Flags

As a student, you might not know all the rules, but reach out to your co-op teacher or trusted adult if:

• You are asked to do something that feels unethical or illegal.

• You notice sensitive data or "confidential" information being handled loosely.

• The company asks you to work hours that violate your student contract or local labour laws.