A week of training unpaid

[NotmylastRolo]

I have taken on an additional part time paye job after some years being self-employed. My new employers pay my tax and NI so I am an employee.
I have been given a start date and my first week is a 5 day training course to learn the job etc. However, I have been told that the first week of training is UNPAID.

Is this normal these days?

[GrumpySod]

. wondering same. I think so, actually.

[SleighbellsRingInYourLife]

I'd be surprised if it was legal.

Do you really want to work for these people?

[financialwizard]

BT do this (although they do actually pay the employee for it they just don't tell them-something to do with weeding out the dross)

[SleighbellsRingInYourLife]

I think the dross are more likely to be prepared to work for free for a large company.

If you're competing for the best staff, you will be out of the race when you start asking them to work for free.

[NotmylastRolo]

I have looked at the paperwork again and it says that I passed the interview with flying colours and am just the sort of person they wish to employ as I was outstanding (ok so probably everyone gets the same hype I think!) I have been offered a position and given a contract to sign and return on the first day of "training" next week. The contract does not give a start date and this part is blank.

The paperwork says that next week is my "selection week" when I would "receive a week of training" and at the end would be given my "start date for employment". It seems that in order to get a "start date" for being employed I am to undertake a week of unpaid training. It was sort of alluded to (about a week of training before the start date for emplyment) but I thought I misheard as I have never come across this practice before.

It just seems a bit cheap to me. I have not even started and I feel less than valued as my time obviously means nothing to them!

[financialwizard]

You might be right sleigh I only mentioned it because it was what BT said to a friend of mine. Btw I don't like the word 'dross' but my brain didn't come up with a better alternative.

[financialwizard]

not that does not sound too good does it.

It seems to me employers want blood from a stone these days.

[SleighbellsRingInYourLife]

It sounds to me like you haven't actually been offered a job yet, but that they intend to put you through a week-long selection process.

Are you up for it?

[NotmylastRolo]

I have had a closer look at the contract. I am a bit annoyed that it was glossed over at the interview but it looks like I have a "zero hours contract".

I was not expecting that at all. I had never heard of that.

[SleighbellsRingInYourLife]

Yeah, it's not a real job.

I'm sorry :(