The Basics
Now that you’ve found a job and been hired, it’s time to work. Working isn’t easy, but it can be rewarding. Not only are you getting paid for your efforts, but you are also meeting people and contributing to society.
It is common to have fears about one’s ability to work. You may be nervous about leaving your house, finding transportation to and from work, and handling your new work schedule. It is normal to have these concerns, but there are many resources to support you. This article explains some of those resources.
This article also includes information about important issues once you get a job, including how to behave appropriately at work, how to get accommodations, and how to know you are treated equally.
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First Job Basics
Now that you’re working, it’s important to make sure that you do a good job! When you do a good job, you’ll be more satisfied with working, you’ll have a better relationship with your coworkers, and your boss will notice and perhaps even give you praise, a promotion, or a raise.
When you go to work, you will need to remember a lot of small things. These are often things that didn’t matter in high school or college, but once you get a job, they are expected of you.
Dress Appropriately
You need to wear the right clothes to work. What those clothes are depend on the job – some jobs require uniforms, while other jobs may be more relaxed or even require that you wear informal attire. Most jobs have accepted dress codes that are right for your work environment. For example, an office job might require you to wear slacks and a nice shirt, while a landscaping job calls for clothes that you can get dirty in.
Naturally, you also need to make sure that your clothes are washed regularly and are in good condition. It is important that you meet these requirements, because by doing so you will show that you fit into the workplace and respect your employer’s standards. Some of these dress codes are even for your own safety.
Transportation
Once you get a job, you want to be sure that you can safely and reliably get to and from work. You can do this in several ways, for example:
- If you can drive and have a car, you can drive to work.
- You can carpool with a friend, family member, or coworker.
- You can take public transportation, such as a bus or train.
If you’re a bit nervous or unsure about how to use public transportation or are worried about how to pay for it, agencies like the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) or other job placement services can offer training in how to use public transportation and can help you get a pass to make your trips easier and cheaper.
Another option is paratransit. Paratransit offers door-to-door transportation services to people with disabilities. Ask your local Independent Living Center what paratransit options are available where you live and how to apply.
Working with Others
When you work, you have to deal with other people on a day-to-day basis. Whether most of your communication with other people is face-to-face, over the phone, or via email, you need to make sure that you have a good relationship with them so that you can be productive in your job.
There are many ways to make sure your work relationships go well. Here are a few tips:
- Always use polite language. Don’t use obscenities.
- Say hello to people when you see them in the morning. It means people will associate you with a positive attitude.
- Don’t get into arguments. If you have a real problem with somebody, it is best to speak to your human resources manager.
- Try to help your coworkers when you aren’t busy.
- Thank your coworkers when they help you.
There are many other ways of developing good relationships with your coworkers. Taking steps like these will make your job more pleasant and will help you get more done.
Appropriate Behavior
There are many aspects of appropriate behavior in the workplace. Of course, you need to be honest, come to work on time, and work hard. Social conversation is fine during lunch time or on your breaks, but you should avoid spending too much time gossiping with your coworkers or on the phone with your friends. If you use a computer at work, you should not use it for nonwork activities. Take your job seriously – your company’s success depends on its employees doing a good job.
Employee Handbook
When you are hired, your supervisor or your employer’s human resources person will give you an employee handbook. If you use a computer at work, this handbook is probably also available on the office’s local network. The handbook explains all of the rules at the office; it also tells you about your benefits and rights as an employee.
The handbook is a very important resource for you, because it will explain many things that you may find confusing. You also need to read the handbook to make sure that you are fulfilling the duties of your job.
Human Resources
Sometimes issues may come up that come up that you cannot deal with on your own. You may have difficulties with one of your coworkers or perhaps you don’t understand your employee benefits. Sometimes an employer may even make a mistake on your paycheck! These are all issues that you can bring up with your employer’s human resources manager.
There are also specific disability issues that you may wish to talk about with your employer’s human resources office. For example, you may wish to disclose your disability or request a reasonable accommodation, important decisions that are discussed here.
When you communicate about a serious issue with your human resources person, do it in writing. By sending a letter or email, there will be a record of the issue if your problems continue.
Disability Disclosure
You may wonder if you should tell your employer about your disability. By law, you do not have to disclose your disability unless you need to request a reasonable accommodation from your employer so you can perform an essential function of your job. If you do need an accommodation, you will have to tell the person or people who will help you get it. This could be your human resources manager or your supervisor. You don’t have to tell anybody else.
However, there are other reasons you may want, or not want, to disclose your disability to your employer or to your coworkers – it all depends on you and your situation.
Accommodations
To be productive at work, you may need to ask for a reasonable accommodation, which is a change that you need to your job or your work environment that allows you to do your job well.
There are many different types of reasonable accommodations and they depend upon your needs. Some examples of accommodations include:
- Making your workplace wheelchair accessible by putting in a ramp
- Purchasing equipment like voice-recognition software
- Supplying sign-language interpreters
- Part-time or other flexible work hours
Your employer must give you reasonable accommodations if you need them because of your disability. It is very important for you to request accommodations if you need them. If you need an accommodation but don’t request it, you are setting yourself up for failure in the workplace.
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Your Benefits and Your Job
Health Care Options
When you get a job, you may get good health care coverage. The type of health care coverage you get will depend on your financial situation and employment status. Here we’ll explain some of your options once you get a job.
Coverage Through Work
Many, but not all, jobs offer health care benefits. If you get health coverage through your job, usually your employer pays most of the expenses. This means that your employer pays hundreds of dollars each month so that you have access to health care. Depending on your job, you may also have to pay a monthly amount in addition to what your employer spends. Details about health coverage through work are explained in the Benefits for Young People: Private Health Care Coverage section.
Medi-Cal Through SSI 1619(b) and Medi-Cal's Working Disabled Program
If you get Medi-Cal coverage and then get a job, you have a couple of options for keeping your Medi-Cal benefits. If you got Supplemental Security Income (SSI) cash benefits before you got your job, Social Security’s 1619(b) program lets you earn up to $64,517 annually and still keep Medi-Cal coverage at no cost. That's a good deal!
If you don’t qualify for 1619(b), you may qualify for Medi-Cal's Working Disabled Program, which lets you keep your Medi-Cal coverage if you work. You can read more about these options in the DB101 article about Benefits for Young People.
Remember that if you have Medi-Cal and get a job, it is very important that you report your income to your county social services agency. How to report your income is discussed here.
Medi-Cal and Individual Plans on Covered California
If your family’s income is at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) ($21,597 for an individual; $44,367 for a family of four), you may be able to get Medi-Cal coverage.
If you don’t, you can get individual coverage and the government may help you pay your monthly premium through tax subsidies, as long as you get your plan on Covered California. Note: There is no income limit for getting subsidies that help pay individual coverage premiums. (Before 2021, the limit was 400% of FPG for federal subsidies and 600% of FPG for state subsidies.) To get subsidies, you still must meet other eligibility rules and the premium amount you pay depends on your income and your plan.
See DB101's Health Programs section to learn more about these programs. You can apply for them at Covered California.
| Your family size: | |
Income limits for your family: | |
| Income-based Medi-Cal, adults (138% FPG) | |
| Income-based Medi-Cal, children (266% FPG) | |
| Subsidized private plans, reduced fees (250% FPG) | |
| Subsidized private plans (no income limit) | -- |
If your family's income is at or below the limit for a program, you may qualify if you meet other program rules.
Notes:
| |
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits
If you get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits and then get a job, your monthly cash benefits amount will go down after you start working. Depending on how much you make, you may still get some cash benefits, because only part of the money you earn will be counted when SSI adjusts your monthly benefits. The SSI program does not count the first $65 you earn each month, and they only count about 50% of the rest. This means that a little less than 50% of your earnings will be counted when Social Security figures out your SSI benefits amount. So, if you don't earn too much, you will get paid by your job and still keep getting paid by SSI.
Depending on your situation, you may be able to use work incentives to keep getting some or all of your benefits. These include Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS), the Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE), and other incentives. You can read more about incentives and other benefits in the DB101 article about Benefits for Young People.
For detailed information about how work impacts SSI benefits, read DB101’s article about SSI. DB101’s School and Work Estimator can also help you figure out how your benefits might change after you get a job.
Reporting Your Income
When you get benefits and get a job, you must tell any government agency that gives you assistance that you are now working. This assistance might be cash benefits, health care, or CalFresh (formerly Food Stamps). The agency giving you assistance might be Social Security, your county social services agency, or your local housing authority.
You will need to notify each agency of three things:
- The date when you started working
- How many hours you work each week
- How much you earn each month
Be sure to keep all pay stubs or direct deposit receipts. If you have questions, talk to a benefits planner.
If you get SSI and don’t tell Social Security that you are working, you are breaking the rules and may get too much in cash benefits. This is called an overpayment. You can also get an overpayment if you do not report how much you have in resources, such as your savings and checking accounts.
If an overpayment occurs, Social Security will ask you to pay back the amount they overpaid you.
Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) and Blind Work Expenses (BWEs)
Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) and Blind Work Expenses (BWEs) are expenses that you pay for yourself, which are related to your disability, and that you need so you can work. You can ask the Social Security Administration to deduct these expenses when calculating your income, so that your countable income is lower. Lower countable income can let you keep more of your SSI benefits while you are working. Learn more about IRWEs and BWEs.
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Your Paycheck
Once you start working, you’ll get a paycheck. Most employers pay their employees twice a month, or every other week.
Understanding Your Paycheck
Your paycheck may not actually be for as much money as you might expect. For example, if you are paid $15 an hour and work 40 hours a week for two weeks, you might expect to get a check for $1,200. However, a lot of things called deductions can make your actual check smaller. Your paycheck may include deductions for:
- Social Security taxes
- Income taxes
- Retirement plans
- Your portion of a health care insurance premium
- California State Disability Insurance (SDI)
All of these are actually good things. Social Security taxes will help you pay for your retirement or will give you Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) if your disability gets worse. Income taxes are used by your community to support public works. Paying into a retirement plan means that when you retire, you’ll be able to use that money for your expenses. Health care insurance means your medical expenses will be affordable.
Once you get a job, you should file your income taxes every year. Most people do this in March or April. The deadline to file your federal and state income taxes is April 15th. If you file your taxes, you might not have to pay anything because what you owed was already deducted automatically from your paycheck. Often, the government actually sends you a check if too much money was taken out of your paycheck for taxes! This is called a refund.
You might also qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). It helps people with low incomes. Thanks to the EITC, you might get an even bigger check from the government. For more information about your federal taxes, see the website of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or call 1-800-829-1040 or 1-800-829-4059 (TDD).
The California Franchise Tax Board has more information about state taxes and the state Earned Income Tax Credit.
Open a Bank Account and Deposit Your Paycheck
In the past, you may have paid for everything with cash and did not see a need to open a bank account. However, once you get a job, a bank account can make your life much easier and safer.
There are a few major reasons why it is important to get a bank account when you have a job:
- You now have more money than you’ve had before and need a place to keep it.
- You can have your check deposited automatically through direct deposit.
- You can get a checking account and pay your bills.
Unfortunately, many large banks charge monthly fees. However, many small banks and credit unions offer accounts with no fees. You should never pay monthly fees for having a bank account. Make sure to compare the fees at different banks and if you are currently being charged a fee for your account, you can switch banks!
Instead of taking their paychecks to the bank, some people go to check-cashing stores. You can give your checks to these stores and they’ll give you cash, but they charge high fees. For example, if you give them a $100 check, you may pay $8 to have your check cashed. So, instead of getting $100 in cash, you will only get $92. However, if you take your check to your bank, you won’t be charged anything.
A lot of check-cashing stores are also payday lenders. Many people who are short on cash choose to get payday loans, which are small amounts of money that are paid back when you get your paycheck or benefits check. The problem is that the interest rates for payday loans are incredibly high, up to 400% per year!
Open a bank account and avoid check-cashing stores and payday lenders. That way you can save up more money for the things you want and need.
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Rights and Responsibilities
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal law that makes it illegal for covered employers to discriminate against (to treat unfairly or unequally) people with disabilities. This includes all areas of employment, such as interviewing, hiring, firing, training, promotions, and benefits. Covered employers are also required by law to give you reasonable accommodations if you need them to be successful at your job. A covered employer is an employer with 15 or more employees.
California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA)
California's definition of a disability is broader than the federal standards, and the state disability laws and rules provide employees more protections than the federal ADA, including employees of smaller companies. Under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), if it is proven that you have been discriminated against, you have the right to a solution that will place you in the position you would have been in if the discrimination had never happened. This can mean getting rehired, back pay, or reasonable accommodations; your employer might also have to pay your lawyer's fees.
The ADA doesn’t apply to federal government jobs. Instead, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 applies to federal employment. The Rehabilitation Act is almost identical to the ADA in its protections. Like the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act makes it illegal to discriminate based on disability and requires you to be given reasonable accommodations so that you can have an equal opportunity to apply for employment, do your job functions, and have access to the benefits of employment.
Requesting Accommodations
To request an accommodation, you’ll need to take a few steps:
- You need to disclose your disability to your employer. You disclose your disability when you let your employer know that you have a disability. You need to disclose this information to your human resources manager or your supervisor. You don’t need to disclose your disability to anybody else in the workplace.
- You can disclose your disability and request your accommodation in person, in writing, or both. To do it in writing can be as simple as sending an email to the appropriate person. You don’t have to write a long, formal letter. It’s a good idea to request your accommodation in writing, because if your accommodation request is denied or delayed, you’ll have a written record showing what you requested and when you did so.
- Give ideas for accommodations. Your employer may have other ideas as well. Your employer must offer reasonable accommodations, but not necessarily give you the specific accommodations you request if there are other more convenient or less expensive accommodations that will work.
You can learn more detailed information about accommodations in the DB101 article on Job Supports and Accommodations. The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) also has a lot of information about what types of accommodations exist and how to request them.
An employer does not have to give you the exact accommodation you want if it is too costly or too difficult to offer for business or operational reasons. For instance, if you have a job as a security guard, your essential function is to make people sign in when they enter the building and watch the cameras. Taking long and frequent breaks throughout your shift would not be a reasonable accommodation because it is an essential function of the job to be physically present when the building is open.
Self-Advocacy
When you get a job, you are the person who is most responsible for making sure your job goes well and, if it is not going well, for asking your employer for accommodations or assistance. Your employer is responsible for making sure to follow the ADA, so if there is a problem, you should usually start with asking your employer for accommodations or assistance. If you believe that a coworker or supervisor is not respecting your rights, you need to make sure your rights are respected by reporting concerns to your employer. Making sure your rights are respected is also called self-advocacy.
Self-advocacy doesn’t actually mean you have to do everything by yourself. Your family and friends can give you support. At some large companies, there may even be organized groups of disabled employees.
If you believe you have been discriminated against because of your disability, you can file a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), California Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General Civil Rights Section, or the California Civil Rights Department (CRD). You must first file a charge of discrimination with one of these agencies before you can file a lawsuit. It is often much better, faster, and easier if you can work things out by talking with your employer. However, you are not required to first use your employer’s internal complaint procedures before you file a charge of discrimination with the EEOC, Calfiornia Office of the Attorney General, or the CRD.
Legal Resources
- The U.S. Department of Justice has a comprehensive site on ADA resources.
- The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has a fact sheet on employment rights of individuals with disabilities and a page for youth about employment discrimination.
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Resources
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California’s Employment Development Department (EDD) provides extensive resources that can help you find a job and plan for your career. Find a local America's Job Center of California (AJCC) (One-Stop).
Workers at the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) can help you apply, prepare for, and find a job.
DOR also has specific service programs for people who are blind and visually impaired and people who are deaf or hard of hearing. DOR provides employment services for people with these disabilities.
The U.S. Department of Justice has a comprehensive site on ADA resources.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has a fact sheet on employment rights of individuals with disabilities and a page for youth about employment discrimination.
The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) offers specific information about enforcing your rights under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).
Getting Help with Your Benefits
If you get Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), or Childhood Disability Benefits (CDB), and you're looking for a job, a trained Benefits Planner can help you avoid problems with your job plan. If you need help or have questions about your situation, you can call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY), Monday through Friday.
View DB101's full list of experts who can help you understand different benefits.
Community-Based Organizations
Various community-based organizations guide people through state, federal, public, and private health and income programs. Some organizations may work with specific populations while others work with people with any type of disability. Here are a few examples
Goodwill Industries services range from personal evaluation and office skills training to career counseling, childcare, and transportation. Some Goodwill Industries centers also do benefits planning for people who get SSI, SSDI, and Medicare. Find locations at www.Goodwill.org, or by calling (voice) 1-800-466-3945.
The California Foundation for Independent Living Centers lists centers serving people with all disabilities. Many of these centers do benefits planning for people who get SSI, SSDI, and Medicare. If they don't offer benefits planning themselves, Independent Living Centers can refer you to local benefits planners. Find the list of independent living centers at www.CFILC.org, or by calling (voice) 1-916-325-1690 or (TTY) 1-916-325-1695.
The California Department of Public Health's Office of AIDS lists 1,300 organizations offering HIV/AIDS services throughout California. Some of these organizations provide case management, benefits planning, and benefits counseling services that can include help with public and private benefits programs. You can search the list online, or call (voice) 1-800-367-AIDS (2437) or (TTY) 1-888-225-AIDS (2437).
Disability Rights California provides representation for consumers of public programs who are disabled. Website publications include topics on health care, benefit programs, and In-Home Supportive Services.