Internship/Exploiting a worker

Zazu

heretolearn wrote: »

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.

This was the point I was trying to get at. From my understanding, if you've been told to come in and essentially work for an employer, and I am calling up other companies and getting them to trade £10k+ (sometimes in £500k+) per month, surely I am a WORKER. Do interns work from 8.30am (sometimes 8am) till 5.30pm 5 days a week? I think it calculates to just over £6.50 per day

I bloody know what internships are. So you don't need to be patronising all you guys who have said "if you don't know what an internship is you shouldn't be an intern..i'm surprised you don't know.." I am trying to understand if it is even LEGAL for a company to "employ" "interns" to do 45 hours a week over the course of 5 days (So 9 hours a day with one 1 hour break in the whole day, which is lunch), have them on phones calling businesses asking them to trade and what currencies they're exposed to and which companies they use to handle the FX, and be paid so little with very little security in the "job."

I find it very convenient that they say they'll offer an internship for 6 months (the max amount of time you can be an intern) and not say a 3 or 6 week internship. I think it's because they want cheap labour. They have "employed" 40+ "interns" and do dismiss them even if they have one day off sick.

I am in my 20's. If they do not want mobile phones out, I am more than happy to put it and keep it in my bag till the end of the day. However, what everyone fails to also notice and understand from my initial post is that it is ONLY my table, which consists of about 8people including myself, whose phones get put in a shoe box.

There are 6 other tables, about 8 on each, and they are all allowed to keep their phones with them. Why should I have to say "I don't have my phone" in order to keep it on me? If they're wrong and at fault and surely it's not RIGHT to be taking someone's personal property, I don't think they should get away with it.

vax2002

Its a scam, you will do your six months, then another boat load of mugs will be sat where you sat generating profit for the company.
The best experience of work is to find a job where you get paid.

SarEl

Zazu wrote: »

I bloody know what internships are. So you don't need to be patronising ...

Well if you knew what an internship was and you knew what the conditions were, and didn't like them, then why did you bloody well take the internship? Don't blame us for a decision you made knowing full well what an internship is! You knew what you were getting into, and if you didn't then you have the right to get out - just quit. Nobody thinks that what is happeneing here is great - but this is the real world and it's a real internship. You don't suddenly get to be an employee and have rights because you want them. These were the rules of the game you knowingly went into.

I agree with vax2002 - it's almost certainly a scam to get free labour - but it's a scam you agreed to and continue to agree to as long as you remain there. It won't magically turn into a job. And it won't magically turn into a table where mobile phones don't go in the shoe box. If you thought there was something in it for you (which is why most people take internships) then you have to decide whether that is still the case. If it isn't, get out. If it is, then it is what it is and stop complaining about it.

getmore4less

Is this a proper company or is it a boiler room?

Zazu

getmore4less wrote: »

Is this a proper company or is it a boiler room?

They're in canary wharf in the citigroup building

Badger_Lady

Unfortunately, if it's the sort of company where people are willing to work for free, then they will of course exploit the system. You do have the choice to leave - it's not slavery - and if they're also slap-dash about dismissing interns then it must be a very popular course. They will not make it any more relaxed or fun as long as new people keep walking in through the door.

How does it fit with your career plan? Will it be worth it after six months of 'keeping your head down'?

paddyrg

Have any interns ever graduated to well-paid jobs? If not, and if they can't demonstrate that most have, then they are taking the p***, and it is just slavery. Does it really impress other employers to be able to say "I was a mug for company xyz"? I have every sympathy with companies offering a week, a fortnight or even a month internships. 6 months is unpaid labour.

saintjammyswine

Have too many people watched "The Pursuit of Happyness"?

Acc72

Zazu wrote: »

I am trying to understand if it is even LEGAL for a company to "employ" "interns" to do 45 hours a week


I find it very convenient that they say they'll offer an internship for 6 months (the max amount of time you can be an intern) and not say a 3 or 6 week internship. I think it's because they want cheap labour. .

I am in my 20's. If they do not want mobile phones out, I am more than happy to put it and keep it in my bag till the end of the day. However, what everyone fails to also notice and understand from my initial post is that it is ONLY my table, which consists of about 8people including myself, whose phones get put in a shoe box.

As you said yourself in an earlier post, you are a "volunteer" and not an "employee".

On the second point, if you do not like it then just leave. As other have said, some companies are working the system. You may find it worthwhile in the long term if it fits in with your career goals, otherwise you are free to leave.

On the third point, there may be a reason why your table (i.e. it is not just you) have to hand over you mobiles ? Why not ask your manager ?

vax2002

Agree Most employees would want to know WHY you spent 6 months unpaid and what your self respect did about alerting you to the fact you were been had as a mug, it would not look good for any employer to think they were employing someone taken in so easily, what if it happens whilst working here, someone calls up with a shaggy dog story and you fall for it ?
Employers are more likely looking for someone who has turned a real pound, even flipping burgers as opposed to spending six months chasing a dream only to be shown the door.