Unpaid Training Session - Is It Compulsory?

PasturesNew

If it's time in lieu and they conveniently forget ... then arrange to go in 2 hours early for the training, but arrange to leave 2 hours early the same day as your "in lieu" part.

StudentOfBusiness

LittleVoice wrote: »

Your original post mentioned time (off) in lieu. Whether it is work or training for work doesn't matter.

When you get the written notification of the training session, ask about the time off to compensate. Ask whether you can leave at 3 pm that day and come in for a noon start the next time.

[What sort of degree course are you on, StudentOfBusiness? Is it a business degree?]

Yes Business Management, I specialise in Project Management...

Sambucus_Nigra

I'm really sorry but - 2 hours training with TOIL....what's the problem?

getmore4less

Never give your work your personal mobile phone number.

Been on holiday, never got the text left the phone at home, turn up at normal time


Alternatively do the training and point out why they are failing to meet targets and why this new training will not help if you can.

Then fight for the time of and proper T&C and holiday pay etc.

First rule of work

Pick your battles

paddedjohn

StudentOfBusiness wrote: »

Hi

I am a student in my last year of uni, and work 15 hours per week at an electrical retailer. We didnt have the best Christmas in terms of sales etc... And not many targets were met, especially warranties!

So, tomorrow Ive got to attend a "Mandatory" training session for our warranties, and how to sell them etc, even though ive been trained before and people dont want to buy them as they are overpriced!

Anyway, this "mandatory" training session is unpaid, and apparently will be given to us in time in lieu (managers always forget that though). Do I have to go? My actual shift starts at 11! So they want me in 2 hours early unpaid

Bear in mind, ive done over triple my contracted hours over Christmas as they dont listen and didnt really give me that much of a choice, ive committed a lot to them, and its not fair for them to say this:(

Help please!

Maybe they are not over priced but rather undersold, your job is to sell this product which you are not, hence the training.
You sound about as enthuiastic as Barak Obama addressing a KKK convention so maybe you are in the wrong job.

StudentOfBusiness

paddedjohn wrote: »

Maybe they are not over priced but rather undersold, your job is to sell this product which you are not, hence the training.
You sound about as enthuiastic as Barak Obama addressing a KKK convention so maybe you are in the wrong job.

Well seen as stores are all failing to hit targets and managers are fighting for their jobs I wouldn't say it is just me...
We have fed this back endless times...

In terms of management from a strategic point of view, I'd say they were well into strategic drift, perhaps entering a stage of flux.

StudentOfBusiness

As been said I shall go in tomorrow, early, have my training and take my time owed next Saturday for an early finish (or at least try to see if its allowed).
This is not a job for my career, and I only have to go there and come home, I can look for something else in the meantime, and look forward to watching Top Gear tomorrow night lol!

Wellery82

If you aren't hitting targets i'd imagine that they are offering support now as ideally they don't want to get rid of staff. I am sure you may be able to skip the session somehow but if you don't go to a training session and continue to fail to hit the targets it may be they look to get rid of you first, feeling you aren't showing an effort to address the situation? Maybe go to the training and make sure you get the time back

chrisotherwise

StudentOfBusiness wrote: »

This is not a job for my career

Isn't it? Are you sure?

I would suggest that you start as you mean to go on. If you start off arguing about the minutae of your contract, the exact number of hours you are due in lieu, and exactly what you are and are not entitled to, you will find it hard to leave that behind you when you actually start your "career".

I have dealt with many project managers in recent years. The ones who got the job (and lasted) were those who understood people and garnered their respect, who were prepared to go the extra mile to get a project finished (often in their own time), and who put the interests of their team first. Compared to those things, qualifications and knowing what "strategic drift" is are relatively unimportant.

Go to the training session. Listen. Watch the people around you. See how they interact. Learn from it. Don't worry about a couple of hours "lieu". I'm sure you'll eventually be glad you did.

Emmzi

chrisotherwise gives excellent advice. listen well.