Internship/Exploiting a worker

Zazu

I have just started working as an intern for a broker as of beginning of September, which is supposed to be 6months. Am I supposed to get a contract?

They also said they'd pay £250 a month for travel and a bit of food. It's 45 hours a week, 8.30am till 5.30

I've been told I should book doctor's appts out of those hours, which I doubt is possible considering it takes an hour to commute back home to my local GP

Everything has been done verbally.

Told the internship is 6months. Also, apparently, if we don't meet weekly/monthly targets, then we get fired.

They gave me an internship contract on the 14th of October (though i started on the first week of Sept) and also in the contract, it says "Interns volunteer with this organisation for a specified length of time, which is agreed on an individual basis."
I do not understand what that means why they've said i'm volunteering?

Also, it states that "the internship may be terminated at any time by either party"

At the start of the shift, they ask everyone on my table to put their phones in a shoe box, which is obviously unlocked and in open display to anyone. I have expressed my disapproval by saying i am not comfortable with my expensive phone and personal property being put in a shoe box where everyone in the office knows our phones are there. "you're putting it in there coz i said so" was the reasoning i got from my line manager

Are they supposed to put your timings in, in a contract?

also, if you're an intern, are you not supposed to be paid the minimum wage, so as to not exploit workers, which is why the min wage was put into place, non?

Thanks so much for your help

SarEl

You are a volunteer - not an employee and not a worker. That's what an internship is. You therefore don't het any wage, never mind the minimum wage - you are getting expenses only. Basically, I'm sorry to say that it's a case of if you don't like it you can leave.

zzzLazyDaisy

Zazu wrote: »

They gave me an internship contract on the 14th of October (though i started on the first week of Sept) and also in the contract, it says "Interns volunteer with this organisation for a specified length of time, which is agreed on an individual basis."
I do not understand what that means why they've said i'm volunteering?

I am astonished that you managed to apply for (and be awarded) an internship without understanding what is meant by this and what is involved.

Maybe this type of work is not for you?

Sambucus_Nigra

What are you getting out of this - if it isn't really good quality training and experience, then I'd be out of the door. They can ASK you to put your phones in the middle but what if you don't? And they aren't your line manager - they are paid members of staff who are responsible for volunteers. They are NOT line managing you.

caledonian_princess

Zazu wrote: »

also, if you're an intern, are you not supposed to be paid the minimum wage, so as to not exploit workers, which is why the min wage was put into place, non?

Thanks so much for your help

As has already been said, interns don't get paid they're supposed to get valuable experience that helps them in their career, if you're not getting that then the internship is of no use to you. There is a campaign (http://www.internaware.org/) which wants the minimum wage for interns and also fair access to internships which are traditionally the sort of positions filled via the old boys network.

ceridwen

Well - specifically re the phone - then you need to tell the employers that you've broken your phone and am unable to afford to replace it - ie you dont HAVE a phone.

That way - your phone remains on you in your pocket and is quite safe.

I think it would be as well for you to try and find out other workers' experiences (intern or otherwise) as soon as - as it does sound like you need to "wise up quick" to the ways of the nastier employers out there (eg the ones you currently have). For the sake of your own welfare - as I'm concerned they are walking straight over you - please start being a bit more "cynical" fast about them. I am concerned that you have even let them dictate things that are none of their business (like leaving your phone out) - when that at least is something you could so easily have got round at the beginning by denying that you have a phone. They wouldnt have believed you - but what could they do? They cant strip search employees to see if they are telling the truth re not having a phone.

saintjammyswine

ceridwen wrote: »

Well - specifically re the phone - then you need to tell the employers that you've broken your phone and am unable to afford to replace it - ie you dont HAVE a phone.

That way - your phone remains on you in your pocket and is quite safe. - maybe they are finding out who can & can't follow instructions? Also many companies do not allow mobile phones into certain areas for security reasons - dont follow this advice!!!!!!

I think it would be as well for you to try and find out other workers' experiences (intern or otherwise) as soon as - as it does sound like you need to "wise up quick" to the ways of the nastier employers out there (eg the ones you currently have). For the sake of your own welfare - as I'm concerned they are walking straight over you - please start being a bit more "cynical" fast about them. I am concerned that you have even let them dictate things that are none of their business (like leaving your phone out) - when that at least is something you could so easily have got round at the beginning by denying that you have a phone. They wouldnt have believed you - but what could they do? They cant strip search employees to see if they are telling the truth re not having a phone. They can perform a search if its in their policies and unless you are trying to smuggle a phone somewhere that would make it unusable then they would probably not need a strip search!!!!!

Please dont follow this advice - just leave the phone at home or let them have it. On an internship you will probably be asked to do worse things, it is all about who is keen enough, dont like it find another one, sorry.

*Chattie*

No point in starting a new job/internship by lying about a phone. If it upsets you that they are in a shoe box then ask if they can be locked away. Mobiles are banned in the work place for many reasons not least due to security would you want photographs taken of your personal details in your lawyers or your bank statements in a bank?

bluenoseam

I tend to agree with the mobile phone comments, most retail places don't allow you to have your phone with you through the day, generally speaking in an office it's more accepted but still not necessary unless you're higher up, if you're really that worried about it then just don't take your phone to work with you, inconvenient i know but ultimately it's either that or putting it in the box - pick your poison on that front!

As for getting rid of you - welcome to the world of work, employers don't need you half as much as you need them, if you're not willing to do something then there will be someone who is in the current market. The very nature of being an intern is pretty much that it's work experience renamed, don't know about anyone else, but when i did work experience i got paid diddly squat for it - anyone who does internships i would expect to understand that, now some places will pay fees to attract people, but others will not, ultimately they're doing YOU the favour here by giving you experience, long term it'll work out better to suck it up & gain the experience.

Good luck!

heretolearn_2

On 'work experience', the law states that if you work fixed hours, have responsibility for set tasks, and are not a student, you're defined as a 'worker' and should be paid minimum wage. But in reality a lot of these things are unpaid, even the government offers unpaid internships.

I don't think it's fair either.

We have unpaid work exp people at our place sometimes but it's fairly ad-hoc, we let them set their own times within reason, and if they phone up that morning to say 'I'm not coming in today', fair enough. If we wanted someone we could rely on 9-5 to take responsibility for X, that's a job.

sparkle84

Brokers are not allowed a mobile whether it be a bank or a brokerage firm - due to insider trading, dont lie about not having one and certainly dont use it