Professional government job but manager asking for cash upfront from me!!

Beta89

After many many months of looking for a job and coming extremely close to being homeless now i finally got offered a job that id applied for.

Its a cctv and surveilance job working from the local government office, alongside the police.
So i know that it is a professional job.

The actual company that would be paying my salary and that id have the contract with though is a big security company that the local council contracted to handle all the cctv security and surveilance, working alongside the police.



I went for the interview and even though i dont currently have the SIA license that they wanted, that other applicants had,
the boss said he likes me and was willing to give me a chance and that i could train through them and then if i pass the SIA test in a few weeks when i do it i will move straight into a job with them.

Theres only 1 boss though, and hes very shouty and strict and controls the whole team military strictness style.
And he doesn't actually ahve any manager who he reports to.

But he said that i have to pay him £500 cash by the end of this week as a 'deposit' to prove to him that i am going to be comitted to the job. :eek::huh::huh:



This seems very very odd, since why would id apply for a job if i wasnt wanting to do it!

But he says that this is to ensure that i will work hard and wont just quit after a few weeks.



Hes given me some forms to sign, and said that after i have done my SIA test in the 1st week of may that i will have the job guaranteed,
and that im currently already working for them and training by watching them work, so that i can start as soon as i get my license.

And said that once i have the license i will then be able to start working for them and so will get the employment agreement contract then.



But this all seems very strange..

But i cant afford to not pay him that deposit and lose this job since id then be homeless in 6weeks anyways.




But has anyone ever heard of stuff like this before???

dmg24

This is not a govt/ public sector job. It is an agency job.

Is the money for your SIA training? If so, it is not unheard of for an employer to ask for the money, and then reimburse it once you have proved your commitment to the company. Many people have to pay for the training themselves, so if this is the case, it is quite generous.

If the £500 is not for training, you need to clarify what it is for.

LindsayO

It does sound strange to me, but I have no experience working in that sector. If you do decide to go ahead and pay the money, insist on a signed receipt with the terms and conditions spelled out

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

1) Watching CCTV is not a "professional" job
2) Its a private sector job
3) If the money is for the qualification then its fair, it may also be to ensure they dont put you through the training then you !!!!!! off to someone else

LittleVoice

Asking for "cash"?!!!!!

What do you have in writing? Anything or just the forms for you to fill in with no commitment from them?

Are you actually working for them unpaid at the moment?

elvis1

Personnaly I think there is something not right here. He should make you sign a contract saying that if you left within so many months they have the right to take the training fee from your wages or other means. I would have a word with the council on the quiet if they are contracted to them. I would also find out who does these qualifications and see how much it does actually cost aswell. Hope it works out in the end and good luck in this job.

Beta89

The job is handling security for the entire bourgh though, with the control room officer where we work from being inside 1 of the local councils office complex's.

But no its not for training, i am going to have to pay for my own SIA training too.


He says this is to prove my committment to working there for him,
and since he is investing his time and making the comittment in giving me the opportunity and training me, that this is to to prove my commitment to him.

He says he will give it back to me in 3months...


I wouldnt mind it much if he actually gave me a contract saying why im giving him £500 cash, and when i will get it back..,
or even ATLEAST giving me a receipt about the payment.
Plus if i ALREADY had a contract saying that im guaranteed a job with salary once i get the license.


But he says he does things his own way as this is his department and when you work here your 1 of his boys,
and so he wont do any contracts or receipts for this and that i just have to trust him as my boss.

dmg24 wrote: »

This is not a govt/ public sector job. It is an agency job.

Is the money for your SIA training? If so, it is not unheard of for an employer to ask for the money, and then reimburse it once you have proved your commitment to the company. Many people have to pay for the training themselves, so if this is the case, it is quite generous.

If the £500 is not for training, you need to clarify what it is for.

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

He quite clearly doesnt want you starting to do the SIA at his expense then !!!!!!ing off.

Seems fair enough if you make sure you get paperwork confirming your money will be returned and you have a job on completion.

Beta89

LinasPilibaitisisbatman wrote: »

1) Watching CCTV is not a "professional" job
2) Its a private sector job

Its handling all the cctv for the entire bourgh though, and working alongside the police in the same centre as them, as they arent authorised to use the local governments camera's in the ways we are.


SO while it may not be a public sector job, this doesnt seem liek a private sector job either.

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

Again its not a professional job and it is a private sector job.

Beta89

I would be ok with that,
but i will be paying for my own SIA training and qualification anyways though.

And he wont give any receipt or contract as thats not how he operates he said.

LinasPilibaitisisbatman wrote: »

He quite clearly doesnt want you starting to do the SIA at his expense then !!!!!!ing off.

Seems fair enough if you make sure you get paperwork confirming your money will be returned and you have a job on completion.