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Work 'trial week'

diamount

diamount

diamount

Soldato
Joined
3 Sep 2008
Posts
3,413
Hello,

I've been unemployed for a around a month now, and the JC refereed me to one of one of the companies who handle the work program. Anyway.. they got me an 'interview' (I was with 3 other lads). Anyway, we were told we won't be paid for doing Mon-Friday 8 to 5. It sounded dodgy from the start, like free labour as he said there were others coming next week also.

Now the poundland lady got me thinking.. is that the same case here? Thanks
 
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What possibility is there of work after the week? For what reason were you sent there, was it for a job or for "work experience"?
 
diamount said:
Hello,

I've been unemployed for a around a month now, and the JC refereed me to one of one of the companies who handle the work program. Anyway.. they got me an 'interview' (I was with 3 other lads). Anyway, we were told we won't be paid for doing Mon-Friday 8 to 5. It sounded dodgy from the start, like free labour as he said there were others coming next week also.

Now the poundland lady got me thinking.. is that the same case here? Thanks
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The main thing to me would be what are the realistic chances of work if you do an honest week of work for free.
 
Morba said:
What possibility is there of work after the week? For what reason were you sent there, was it for a job or for "work experience"?
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Because it's a trial week. Seems like he can invent any reason he wants to.

Antony101 said:
I did 8 weeks unpaid at B&Q and it's now the reason I was successful in my interview at another company.
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The point is moot. I did a similar thing for another company and got fully paid for it.
 
scorza said:
This sounds like work experience to me. Really the JC should explain this though.
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Work experience? I've got plenty of that. Especially for menial minimum wage ones. Even apprentices get paid, a paltry sum. So seriously, this is either illegal or grey area shady crap. But I can't say no or I'll probably get sanctioned. So I'll be doing 40 hours of work for £50. These companies must make a killing for not having to pay for people.
 
diamount said:
Work experience? I've got plenty of that. Especially for menial minimum wage ones. Even apprentices get paid, a paltry sum. So seriously, this is either illegal or grey area shady crap. But I can't say no or I'll probably get sanctioned. So I'll be doing 40 hours of work for £50. These companies must make a killing for not having to pay for people.
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its the goverments "get people off the dole scheme".. It should really be aimed at inexperienced people but they tend to dish it out to experienced people like yourself to keep there figures up. Its shocking really.

I thought it was optional, is that not the case?
 
Doomedspeed said:
its the goverments "get people off the dole scheme".. It should really be aimed at inexperienced people but they tend to dish it out to experienced people like yourself to keep there figures up. Its shocking really.

I thought it was optional, is that not the case?
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Not 100% sure on that, honestly but afraid to test it out. However if this happens again, at least I've got ammo the next time something similar comes up in the future.
 
Does sound like they may be taking advantage but hopefully it'll turn out well and they'll hire you after the trial week.

The charity I work for get people sent from the Job Centre and Interserve to do 8 week placements. They know there is no chance of a job at the end of it but we give them some training and hope that the experience will help them get a job somewhere else after.

If it turns out there isn't a chance of a job at the end of it, don't just stop going. Talk to the person who arranged it for you (either at JC or Interserve) and explain if you don't want to do it, people have been sanctioned after deciding to just stop turning up on the placements where I work (although most feel they are benefiting from being there and complete their 8 weeks).

Good luck anyway, hope you get the job (if there is one to get).
 
Doomedspeed said:
It should really be aimed at inexperienced people.
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Experience doesn't equate to competency or work ethic. I would personally find out what the point of it is and what the outcome is.

If they tell you there will be 12 people over the next 3 weeks and one of them will be hired then I would have second thoughts about it. Its hard to know their motivations without knowing their plans.
 
It's a joke. I managed to avoid getting put on 8 weeks "work experience" in a call centre (except i wouldn't be allowed to actually do anything close to handling calls) and now have myself a decent job
 
I personally think such things are pretty unfair, especially for a week.

It's going back a good number of years now, but when I finished Uni, I had a bar job. A friend of mine worked in a posh wine bar with restaurant and they needed new staff. She recommended me to the assistant manager and I had an interview with them. I was looking for a proper career job at the time, but it seemed to make sense to move bars when this offered a slightly better wage and significantly better tips due to more affluent customers. Meeting with assistant manger all went well and they told me what to wear and to come and do a trial shift. So I had to book a day off from my usual bar job to go and do an unpaid day at this new one.

The staff I worked with and the assistant manager made out that it had all been fine and that the job was as good as mine. The actual owner/manager though was an obtuse character and he decided he would like me to actually do a week of trial shifts first. It was at this point I basically had to tell him to stick it, because I wasn't going to sacrifice a weeks wages at the job I had just to work for him for nothing for a week. They even took the tips that I earned!

I do know as my parents still live in the town that this Owner is an odd character who rubs a lot of people up the wrong way, so perhaps this is more of a one off, but I think if you are going to have people work for free, you need to give them some compensation, monetary or otherwise. Obviously with a job that is significantly more important than bar work, something like and apprenticeship where you don't get paid will give you valuable training and experience, so that is somewhat different.
 
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