Unpaid Training Question

TommyTenToes · 7 Aug 2009 at 13:55

Just a quick question, my girlfriend works for a bar that is part of a large chain. The other night one of the managers there arranged a "cocktail training" night, which my girlfriend assumed was more of a social thing than actual training. As such she turned up 30 minutes late, and was given a formal disciplinary as a result of this.

Considering the training was unpaid, is this allowed? Just seems a bit unfair!

fendi · 7 Aug 2009 at 15:31

TommyTenToes said:
Just a quick question, my girlfriend works for a bar that is part of a large chain. The other night one of the managers there arranged a "cocktail training" night, which my girlfriend assumed was more of a social thing than actual training. As such she turned up 30 minutes late, and was given a formal disciplinary as a result of this.

Considering the training was unpaid, is this allowed? Just seems a bit unfair!

I'd tell them to stick their job (after finding something else)

Rotty · 7 Aug 2009 at 15:38

if it was unpaid then it is very unfair for them to do that

loltim · 7 Aug 2009 at 15:42

Seems a bit unfair, but what if everyone turned up when they felt like it? It'd be a shambles.

mattyfez · 7 Aug 2009 at 15:45

Sounds wrong if it is unpaid, but was it outside her normal rotor hours? if so then she should appeal, if it took place during a normal shift then it's probably a different story.

If it was unpaid and outside her normal hours then I cannot see any justification for formal action against her.

SideWinder · 7 Aug 2009 at 15:49

If someone said the word 'training' to me, my first thought wouldn't be 'Oh its a social thing'. :confused:

Dano · 7 Aug 2009 at 15:50

Sounds well out of order to me.

HarryPainful · 7 Aug 2009 at 16:24

SideWinder said:
If someone said the word 'training' to me, my first thought wouldn't be 'Oh its a social thing'.

Indeed.

Training means training.

scorza · 7 Aug 2009 at 16:27

TommyTenToes said:
Considering the training was unpaid, is this allowed? Just seems a bit unfair!

My guess is that it is allowed, and yes it's unfair. Does she have to wear pieces of flair too?

Delvis · 7 Aug 2009 at 16:28

Not really out of order, they've stated they're going to give her training to help with the job, and she's turned up late.

If she didn't want to be there or didn't want the training then say so

Now they have a staff member who missed 30 mins of the training.

loltim · 7 Aug 2009 at 16:36

Delvis said:
Now they have a staff member who missed 30 mins of the training.

Exactly, You don't turn up fashionably late to training

Imagine if 4 or 5 of you were late.

arknor · 7 Aug 2009 at 16:38

whatever happened to training on the job, pfft after hours training for no pay and you get told off for doing stuff out of work hours? GTFO!

Guest2 · 7 Aug 2009 at 16:40

Training means training. Not come in whenever you like...

however training is usually paid. Tell her to look for another job then tell her manager to stuff the unpaid training

HangTime · 7 Aug 2009 at 18:40

Tim said:
Seems a bit unfair, but what if everyone turned up when they felt like it? It'd be a shambles.

If it was paid or held during normal working hours, that wouldn't happen. So the shambles is the organisation if you ask me.

Generally speaking unpaid afterhours training should be voluntary, not compulsary in my my book. I.e. some staff might want to come and learn some extra skills.... if it's a requirement of the job, then that training needs to be organised during normal (paid) working hours.

TommyTenToes · 7 Aug 2009 at 21:35

Well several employees didn't turn up at all... it was held during normal working hours but it wasn't a fixed "shift" and wasn't a shift she would normally work. The way she described it to me (which I'm assuming is how it was described to her!) was that they were to dress up, and that a cocktail demonstrator had been booked for them, then they would be going out afterwards, hence the informal/social vibe.

It's not a big deal as she enjoys her job and gets along with the other people working there, I was just curious about the legality of it.

Thanks for your opinions anyhow!

Oh and for the people saying "just find another job", I don't know what it's like in other cities at the moment but in Glasgow jobs are extremely hard to come by!

Delvis · 8 Aug 2009 at 08:20

HangTime said:
If it was paid or held during normal working hours, that wouldn't happen. So the shambles is the organisation if you ask me.

Generally speaking unpaid afterhours training should be voluntary, not compulsary in my my book. I.e. some staff might want to come and learn some extra skills.... if it's a requirement of the job, then that training needs to be organised during normal (paid) working hours.

Yes....lets to training in a bar during the day while people are trying to order drinks at the same time.....makes perfect sense

And yes, jobs are hard to come by OP, wherever you are at the moment, still looking myself.

HangTime · 9 Aug 2009 at 22:15

Delvis said:
Yes....lets to training in a bar during the day while people are trying to order drinks at the same time.....makes perfect sense

It certainly makes enough sense for some bars (including the one in question) to do so. I've seen plenty of bar staff getting on the job training of some description over the years, no probably not at 9pm on a Saturday night, but during quieter periods, definitely.