I have been asked to do a 7 hour trial shift?

Smodlet

I agree with Dakta; making people work for nothing is the very definition of slavery, is it not? No wonder all these companies have these "modern slavery statements" on their websites; guess it's fine for poor, exploited immigrants but does not apply to Brits, huh?

theoretica

Mm1997 wrote: »

Hi just looking for some advice, I have been asked by a employer to attend a trial shift from 4pm until 11pm surely this isn’t right? As it is a full on shift and as it’s a trial I won’t be paid? I was just wondering if anyone has been asked the same and how to politely decline the hefty 7 hour shift I am disabled and I am getting back into the workforce after a 2 year break so a bit rusty with these situations! Thanks in advance

I would do the shift without kicking up a fuss before hand - if they then tell you you do not have the job you are in a strong position to demand payment under the minimum wage legislation.


If you do get the job, congratulations! If they pay you for the shift that is good (and a sensible business choice for staff relations). If they don't but the average pay for the pay period is above minimum wage there isn't much you can do, but you are back in the workforce and have a job. If this takes your average pay below minimum wage you can then complain.

pramsay13

I was asked to do a 1 hour trial for a 3 hour shift.

After the 1 hour I was asked if I could stay on for the extra 2 hours so I agreed.

When I was told the full 3 hours would be unpaid I refused to work for them again.

kingfisherblue

My son was asked to do two days trial shifts. He really wanted to get back into work, but had little experience - as he said, how can he get experience if no one gives him a chance? This was in a particular industry (he worked part time in a different job as well). He was aware that it may be unpaid, but decided that it was worth it to try to get the job. He agreed, and it turned out that the shifts were paid. He got the job.

I think that asking people to do unpaid trial shifts is wrong, but at the same time, it can give you a chance to get your foot in the door. In the OP's case, it may show him/her whether they can cope with a full shift.

However, an alternative could be to consider voluntary work (yep, I know it's unpaid!) in an area where they have an interest. They could then start with short spells, and possibly increase if their health allows. It would give a taste of working, an opportunity to see hhow much they can cope with, a chance to help with something that they enjoy, and of course, it could be great for a reference if the OP does decide that they are able to return to regular employment.

LadyDee

I once offered to work for free for a week because I really, really wanted the job, and the interviewers expressed some doubt as to my seeming lack of experience. (This was many years ago).

From my then CV it didn't appear that I could do it, but I knew I could and asked for the opportunity to prove it to the firm. They agreed, I did the week, they were impressed and I was offered the job. My first pay day I found I had been paid an extra week's money. I worked for that company for 9 years.

[Deleted User]

My last job before present came with a condition of unpaid trial shift instead of second interview - it was you might be the best person on paper but we have some buts and want to be fair - be here for 7am on a Saturday morning.

3.5 hours into the trial, the line manager who hadn't been present at the interview, simply said do you want a new starter pack (I never received written offer or any confirmation of interviews till I'd done over a month's work when a contract actually appeared) and I was then allowed to go for the day. I wasn't paid but if I felt really wrong then clearly I wouldn't have presented on the following Monday. It was one of the best starts really, it was said I was more confident then the manager who started in the role I was doing and the 30 odd receptionists seen in the last couple of years.

The most recent position also involved an unpaid sit & see which while only lasted half hour really with someone talking at speed and wasn't enough to ever see much sadly. And again just over a year when a trial shift was meant to happen but the employer went straight to job offer on hearing my job loss, wasn't the best scenario as I run off after 6 days of very long shifts from a pallet company without ever a receiving a penny so a day's trial to me is a lucky escape.

suki1964

We offer trial shifts as the work we do isn't for everyone, but they are paid. If the person decides the job suits them then its added to their wages, if they say no, won't be back then its cash in hand and no one has lost out

Unpaid trials are not illegal as long as they are only for a few hours - ie not a full shift. If its a full days work then you should get minimum wage at least

However you do need to clarify and decide yourself

A 7 hr shift tbh, if in hospitality, is pretty light. Think long and hard about the jobs you are applying for. Any work in hospitality is back break and feet killing, esp coming up to Christmas . Double shifts are not unheard of and breaks are pretty non existent

Illbedamned

I once had a trial day, told me to turn up at the office...then got bundled into a car and dropped off in a random suburb to door to door "fundraising" (none of which was mentioned in the interview) from 9am to 9pm, couldnt leave either as they kept my bag in their car and i was somewhere i didnt know.

So after that expereince no....


Also is the length of shift that may also be a problem? Personally i can't work full time to disability, can manage 7hrs a day now but its taken 6 years to build up to that (and a more than a few breakdowns in between )

bertiewhite

My stepdaughter was asked to do a trial shift at a care home she applied for a job at. It was unpaid but basically, she was shadowing someone else, not actually working.

garth549

I think a trial shift is nothing in the grand scheme of things of starting a new job (assuming they're not taking the mick)... It really depends on how much you want it. Personally I'd just do it without any fuss whatsoever.

I always give interviewees a few programming tasks to do to test their skills. Takes them a couple of hours. The problem is employers can't always distinguish just on qualifications and interview questions.

For example we had someone who appeared impressive with a first class masters degrees who was absolutely hopeless. We've also had a 16 year old school leaver with a few GCSE's as an apprentice who was an absolute genius and could do anything we gave him.