Do I have to work for free?

mum2one

liam92 wrote: »

No thanks, I'm not aiming for a 'clock-on and clock-off career,' I'm aiming to become a barrister and hence be salaried and work as cases require.

However the job I'm in now (just a stop-gap before uni,) I don't enjoy and don't want to progress, so why should I work unpaid?

I'm pretty sure there would be people queuing up for a job that pays above min wage, its all part of life, I worked as a manager in catering, and was salaried in theory for 39hrs a week, on a short week was 48 hrs, bad week 80 hrs. I worked in a supermarket, whereas my department closed at 4pm on a sunday, I only got paid to 4pm, but still had to cash up, and that was when Sundays were on triple time.

30 mins a day may add up over time, but I'm sure there will be times during the day where you make some of those 30 mins up!

DCFC79

liam92 wrote: »

so why should I work unpaid?

possibly because its part of the job, ive been in similar position with turning up for work 15 mins before the start of the shift. I didnt have a problem with it because it made sense since the employer was paying the wages and a good wage at that.

My last job we had to turn up for 9 but it was generally expected to be there before 9 to turn the pc on, put our ties on so we were ready for work at 9

liam92_2

KiKi wrote: »

I can't think of anyone, in any job, who doesn't do at least 10-15 minutes extra per day, whether it be walking into the building and switching their computer on, or arriving and getting changed or whatever.

I can't think of any job where you literally turn up and start and walk out when you finish every single day. (I'd be happy to hear of some!) Whether it's sitting down at your desk and getting ready, or being briefed by a previous team member, or setting up the warehouse / store / shop / whatever. You may get a shock when you start working in other organisations, especially if you plan to make a career for yourself and climb the ladder where extra time is the norm.

I'd also warn about being very careful in burning your bridges before you get another job. It can be mightily uncomfortable!

KiKi

p.s. I'm impressed with your correct use of apostrophes, though (even if you can't spell 'appalling').

Lol - in my defence, it is 12.20am, although duly noted!

What you've said is true, KiKi, and obviously one should arrive promptly to start work at whatever time and leave once the shift has been completed.

Thanks for your advice (that's the employment advice as well as the spelling advice!)

Mrs_Arcanum

IIRC it was only those who worked on the clock that actually get paid exactly the hours they were at work. Any other business the time you are paid is the point at which you are ready/prepared to work. Such as opening time in a shop will involve being there ready with the till before the doors open. Or in an office, you would be ready at your desk logged in to your PC. Not arrive at the start time and not be ready to go. OH arrives at least 30 minutes before work starts to do the handover so the night shift can get away promptly, he does not get paid extra for this.

closed

What job did you do in the bank aged 14?

liam92_2

In the Staff Handbook, it says the minimum period for overtime to be paid is 1 hour - does this mean to be paid, each period of overtime has to be at least 1 hour, or that you need to save overtime up until you reach 1 hour before you can be paid for it?

liam92_2

closed wrote: »

What job did you do in the bank aged 14?

I'm 18; 1 week short of 19
I started working when I was 6 months shy of age 16 in February 2008.

I have therefore been there 3 years and 6 months, which I usually round up to 4 years.

KiKi

In your other thread you say you've only been there a year! I'm not suggesting you're lying (as I don't think you are) but how does that one year work with the four years? That's quite a difference!

KiKi

Mrs_Arcanum

Sounds like anything less than an hour will not be paid as overtime (somewhat harsh), but anything 1 hour or more will.

liam92_2

Do you think I'd get anywhere by ringing the HR department or would they just refer me to the 'additional hours as required to properly carry out your duties' clause in my contract?