This year, Take Our Kids to Work Day will be held on November 6, 2024. This annual program organized by The Students Commission of Canada is offered to Grade 9 (Ontario) and Secondary III (Quebec) youths to give them an opportunity to discover potential careers and observe a parent, tutor, or friend of the family in the workplace.
Employers who wish to participate in this program must implement stringent health and safety measures. As an educational institution, the University of Ottawa has always supported work shadowing initiatives.
Health and safety guidelines and regulations to follow
Health and safety are a top priority for the University of Ottawa, and all employees who agree to be shadowed by a youth must comply with specific safety measures. Please read the following guidelines, which you must comply with:
- The parent/tutor must inform the dean or assistant vice-president of the shadowing activity and obtain their approval. The dean or assistant vice-president may deny approval of the shadowing activity if it raises any potential health or safety issues.
- The parent/tutor must provide the telephone number of any parent who is not a uOttawa employee and keep this number on hand in case an emergency arises or a youth must be sent home.
- The parent/tutor who agrees to participate in the shadowing activity must consider the regulations that restrict access to certain areas of the University (i.e., certain laboratories, the power plant facilities, etc.).
- The youth must remain under the constant supervision of the parent/tutor while at the University.
- The youth will not operate any mechanical, electrical, or powered equipment at any time.
- The youth will not handle any hazardous or dangerous products (e.g., toxic, biological, radioactive, etc.).
- The youth and the parent/tutor (if not a uOttawa employee) must be informed of any health and safety issue related to the shadowed employee’s work and workplace.
- An orientation session on safety must be presented to the youth.
- The University will adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards the youth’s behaviour. If a youth does not comply with workplace health and safety rules and regulations at all times, that youth will be denied the opportunity to participate in all shadowing activities and the parent/tutor will be asked to take the youth home immediately.
We hope the youth and the parent/tutor will have an enjoyable and productive day at the University of Ottawa.
If you have questions, please email the Office of the Chief Risk Officer.