Work Trial - 17 hours? unpaid?

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

Masomnia wrote: »

I'd ask if you'll be paid.

For me if it was a no then I would politely decline/report them to HMRC (delete as appropriate)

I wouldn't want to work for a company like that.

HMRC won't care if these people are essentially on an interview. I would presume that they don't even have to sign off unemployment benefits for that period. There is no question of an employment contract between the OP and this company at this time - if it is being presented as a trial.

Is there any indication that the job, if offered, would start immediately after the 2 days anyway?

Equally, a small claims action would almost certainly fail if they have been told this is a trial session.

Masomnia

ScorpiondeRooftrouser wrote: »

HMRC won't care if these people are essentially on an interview. I would presume that they don't even have to sign off unemployment benefits for that period. There is no question of an employment contract between the OP and this company at this time - if it is being presented as a trial.

Is there any indication that the job, if offered, would start immediately after the 2 days anyway?

Equally, a small claims action would almost certainly fail if they have been told this is a trial session.

I don't know about you but I've never had a 17 hour interview.

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

Masomnia wrote: »

I don't know about you but I've never had a 17 hour interview.

Nope, but I have had interviews that necessitate taking 2 days off work, and when you factor in travel, etc, are near enough 2 full days. Interviews/trial/assessment sessions that take a day are commonplace.

As I said above, this would cross the line for me, but it's not absurd and certainly not illegal.

Masomnia

ScorpiondeRooftrouser wrote: »

Nope, but I have had interviews that necessitate taking 2 days off work, and when you factor in travel, etc, are near enough 2 full days. Interviews/trial/assessment sessions that take a day are commonplace.

As I said above, this would cross the line for me, but it's not absurd and certainly not illegal.

I've had full days of assessments/interviews too, but that's not the same as working for the company for two days. They'll be trained but they'll be calling the customers and generating business.

Suppose they do the full two days and the company are happy and keep them on but pay them what they should minus two days then imho that could well be illegal under NMW regulations. It's basically an unpaid probation period.

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

Masomnia wrote: »

I've had full days of assessments/interviews too, but that's not the same as working for the company for two days. They'll be trained but they'll be calling the customers and generating business.

Suppose they do the full two days and the company are happy and keep them on but pay them what they should minus two days then imho that could well be illegal under NMW regulations. It's basically an unpaid probation period.

No, it's not the same. A company shouldn't do it. But I doubt it's illegal and don't think HMRC will be in the least interested unless the company have one of these sessions every week.

It all depends on how it has been framed. Again, These two days might well be wholly separate from any continuing work - the actual job might not begin until weeks later. We don't know, the OP hasn't said.

It's quite clear that the company are quite sure they won't be able to attract any staff unless they are currently unemployed, however, and that probably says enough about it being a job to avoid. But legal, unless someone can quote a case where it has been deemed otherwise.