Health & Safety Tips for Jobseekers

The prospective employer shouldn't be offended if you ask for references. This could include a list of other jobseekers who've worked for the employer, as well as business colleagues who can vouch for him/her. Ask the references what kind of working environment the employer provides, how long they have known the employer, and get their general impressions and opinions of the employer. If the prospective employer is reluctant to provide references, you may want to reconsider applying to work for him/her. (See the scam alerts page for more information on this topic.)

It is a good idea to carefully research any company to which you are considering applying for employment. Reviews sites, forums and blog sites are all potential sources of useful information, but do be aware that not all sources are necessarily accurate or reliable.

If you are going to a new job site for the first time, consider bringing someone with you. This is especially important if you're a model, companion, or actor working as an independent contractor and you're going out on assignments for photographers or producers whom you have never met. If the employer has a problem with you bringing a chaperone, this could be a sign that you may want to steer clear of the job.

If a prospective employer does not work out of a traditional office setting where there are numerous other employees present, you should insist on a public meeting place like a cafe. Do not meet in a secluded place or invite strangers into your home.

When going to an interview or a new job site for the first time, be sure to take your cell phone with you.

Don't go to a new job site without telling somebody where you are going. Give them the contact information of the employer. Let them know how long you expect to be gone.

If for any reason, you are getting "bad vibes" about a potential employer, trust them. If a job opportunity sounds to good to be true, it very likely is!

U.S. law dictates that your employer must provide a safe, healthy workplace. You have the right to refuse any work that might be dangerous to your health. If you feel that your rights are being violated, you can report safety problems to the government. For workers in the United States, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Agency) handles complaints about workplace safety violations.

If you notice any suspicious activity on our site, please report it to us immediately. Additionally, if you suspect any unlawful activity, please report it to the appropriate legal authorities.

Human trafficking is on the rise worldwide. We must all to join together to stamp out this evil. When working with others, be on the look out for the following warning signs of possible human trafficking:

• An individual arrives accompanied by another person.
• An individual speaks for or appears to maintain control over another person.
• An individual seems fearful of an accompanying person.
• An individual has difficulty communicating, whether resulting from a language barrier or fear of interaction.
• While one of these signs, on its own, does not necessarily present a trafficking concern, multiple signs indicate a potential red flag. If you suspect that an individual is being trafficked, contact the appropriate authorities and report it to us immediately. Good starting places to file a report include: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC): 800-843-5678; Polaris Project - Report Human Trafficking: 888-373-7888; Dept. of Health & Human Services: 888-373-7888; and Children of the Night: 800-551-1300.

You have a right to work in an environment that is free of sexual harassment. Despite the pervasive myth of the “casting couch”, adult industry jobs are no exception to this rule. You do not have to nor should you do anything you're not comfortable with in order to get a job. If you experience sexual harassment on the job in the U.S., contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

For more information about personal safety online, check out these resources:

• http://www.staysafeonline.org.
• http://www.onguardonline.gov.
• http://www.getsafeonline.org.
• http://wiredsafety.org.

No matter what type of career you decide to pursue, your health is of paramount importance. If you feel good about yourself and your body, this will carry over into everything you do, but it is especially important in the adult entertainment industry. After all, this industry is built on the glamour and appeal of the human body. You can't be sexy if you're not healthy. Therefore, as an adult industry worker, you should have an especially strong commitment to maintaining a healthy body. Not only will this make you more likely to be hired by potential employers, but it will also allow you to enjoy your work more and sustain it for a longer period.

Study after study shows that the key to staying healthy is to get plenty of exercise. Our bodies are designed for constant motion and activity. Unfortunately, the modern world with all its technological advances does not require as much activity as we need. Our ancestors had no choice but to stay on their feet all day hunting and gathering, but we can get away with spending hours on end lying on the couch watching television or hunched over a computer monitor. As a result, we must stay in a state of constant awareness that we need to move, move, move. Resist the temptation to become a couch potato! Even simply walking 15 minutes a day can reap benefits. Better yet, stop taking elevators and instead always use the stairway. And of course, there are any number of excellent fitness gyms you can join. You may even want to consider hiring a personal trainer to get you started, or try pilates, yoga, meditation, or stretching. In all truth, the very best way to stay physically fit is to cultivate a sport or activity that you are passionate about, so that it is not a chore to exercise, but rather a joy.

Our society loves to jump from one fad dieting craze to the next, but the fact is that there is no magic, perfect diet. Instead, the key to good health is common sense and moderation. Don't get hung up on the idea that some foods are “bad” and others are “good.” The truth is never that black and white. The human digestive tract is built for a wide range of different foods. You want to eat lots of different types of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains. Remember, variety is the spice of life. It is easy to fall into the same repetitive eating habits day after day, week after week. To break up the cycle, consider visiting a farmers' market and pick out a few exotic fruits and vegetables you've never tried before. It can be fun to explore the gigantic universe of food options, and it will pay even bigger dividends for your health. Whatever you do, make sure to avoid heavily processed foods as much as possible. That doesn't mean that you can never go to fast food restaurants again, but you definitely do not want to rely on them as a primary part of your diet.

Probably the worst thing you could do for your health is to smoke. Of all the substances on the earth, one could make quite a strong case that nicotine is among the most damaging to your body. From heart disease to lung cancer, the health complications from tobacco use are severe and frightening. Nicotine is a highly addictive drug, so why would you want to fall prey to a substance that basically enslaves you and lines the pockets of the tobacco companies at the same time? If you've already started smoking, don't despair. The U.S. Surgeon General has an excellent set of consumer tips to help people who wish to quit smoking. The important thing to remember is that much of the damage caused to your lungs by smoking can be reversed if you quit, so it's never too late.

Numerous recent studies have documented the health benefits of drinking a modest quantity of beer or wine on a daily basis. That doesn't mean you should become a drinker if you aren't one already, because you can get most of these same benefits by drinking a glass of grape juice every day, too. However, if you are a drinker, you probably don't need to reduce your consumption to zero, you just need to make sure that you are not abusing alcohol. As with everything, the key is moderation. One or two glasses of wine a day is probably okay. Two or three cases of beer a day is not.

We don't mean to sound like Nancy Reagan here, but we would be remiss if we didn't point out that recreational drugs can be extremely dangerous and hazardous to your health. Drugs may seem like an easy way to run from your problems or alter your mood, but in the long run, they cause more problems than they solve. This is a pill-popping society, and everywhere we turn, we seem to be bombarded with ads telling us that we need to start taking this or that new medication. Social conditioning of this type might make us think that even recreational drugs are okay or even advisable. In reality, we can find so much more fulfillment by addressing our problems and needs more directly. It might take a little bit more work to make the effort to find joy in our outer world by stopping to smell the roses or watching the sunset, but it is ultimately worth it. This world is full of magnificent and uplifting experiences that don't require any drugs at all.

The stresses and pressures of modern urban life can often take a toll on our mental health. We live in a world where anxiety and depression is rampant, and psychiatric medication is given out like candy. Sadly, this dog-eat-dog capitalist world is not very concerned about any one individual's mental state, just about one's bank account. That's why you have to take responsibility for tending to your emotional and psychological wellbeing yourself. Write poetry, have soulful talks with your friends, try a meditation tape, take walks in nature, do yoga, keep a journal — these are all good methods of maintaining your mental health.

Many of the jobs listed on the SexyJobs.com network do not involve any direct physical or sexual contact with other individuals. However, those of you who are interested in adult acting need to be aware of the unique health issues specific to this career choice. While the adult industry has made strides in containing the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, you need to be aware of the risks involved and take every precaution to limit them. For instance, all reputable production companies require a current blood test for HIV and other STDs. In most cases, performers will be asked to get a test at least every 30 days. While condoms are not always required on the set, some producers do demand them. It is up to you to decide your own comfort level. As a performer, you have a right to refuse to work with anyone who has an outdated test or who refuses to use a condom. An excellent discussion of the health hazards in the adult film industry can be found on the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) website. For more excellent information about STDs, including HIV, check out the folks at SF city clinic. For help locating testing sites, check out Talent Testing Service and FSC-Pass, a service administered by the Free Speech Coalition (FSC).