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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to think this is unfair and illegal?

115 replies

EverythingIsSoThrowback · 08/10/2013 19:34

This is what I think is unfair:
My DD1 is currently on work experience, she said that all she's been doing is cleaning for the past 3 days. Isn't this unfair? She's not really learning anything.
Also, the 'illegal'part. She's working 5 hours without a break, she's 15, so shouldn't she work 4 hours before a break?
Should I complain?

OP posts:

LittlePeaPod · 08/10/2013 19:36

What was she told she would be doing in the position?

DSM · 08/10/2013 19:36

What's the job? Presumably, she is learning cleaning.

She'd be entitled to 30 mins if she works over 4.5 hours, so she should be getting a break.

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 08/10/2013 19:37

That does sound unfair. It's work experience not " ill just spend all day cleaning and being ignored" experience. If there's nothing they can show her why take her in? And yes the break thing takes the puss although I never got one either on WE. Had no idea oops. But yes mention to school the unsuitability of the placement so they take the business off the list.

HRHLadyG · 08/10/2013 19:38

Work Experience is supposed to be just that....an experience of what its like to go to work in the big world. I don't think it does any harm for a week or two.
Some young people need to understand that work can be hard and everyday isn't filled with all of your favourite jobs to do! That said, they shouldn't be using her as an unpaid servant ..... x

cozietoesie · 08/10/2013 19:38

Who has arranged the WE? Because they should have a full risk assessment, learning outcome statement etc etc - the whole caboodle.

Complain to them.

gamerchick · 08/10/2013 19:38

5 hours cleaning... how mucky (and big)is that place?

gordyslovesheep · 08/10/2013 19:38

what have the school said?

DSM · 08/10/2013 19:39

Why is it unsuitable though? She is learning - she's getting experience of what it is like to work in the real world!

Unless she is say, an aspiring lawyer and had got a place at a law firm, they are making her Hoover the carpets...

nomorecrumbs · 08/10/2013 19:39

She should have a booklet or assignment to complete at the end. Cleaning just won't cut it!

Doinmummy · 08/10/2013 19:40

I think work experience is sometimes used by companies as cheap labour. A lad I know spent days chopping onions!

I agree let the school know so they can take the company off their list

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 08/10/2013 19:41

Because if there's nothing to show her then that makes it unsuitable. If cleaning is part of the job fair enough she should contribute but there's no way an entire work experience should be cleaning and nothing else.

CaptainSweatPants · 08/10/2013 19:41

Thought it was 20 minute break for every 6 hours

DSM · 08/10/2013 19:41

at everyone screaming slave labour and asking the school to remove the business from their list, without any knowledge of what the job or company is..

Binkyridesagain · 08/10/2013 19:41

In general I don't think they do learn very much, if anything, on most work experiences. From talking to a few teens it tends to be cleaning, filing, organising the stock room or fetching the coffee.

I have managed to organise my DSs experience with a local pet shop owner who has assured me he will be teaching him things other than how to mop a floor.

DSM · 08/10/2013 19:42

Right well we need to know the job, really, before commenting.

Original poster

EverythingIsSoThrowback · 08/10/2013 19:42

She is working at a vets.

She did get a sheet saying what she would be doing with a list of maybe 8 or 9 things, which did say 'may include cleaning', which I understand, of course a vets has to be tidy, but..

OP posts:

Doinmummy · 08/10/2013 19:42

I thought work experience was to give them a taste of what their chosen career is like. Should they not be shadowing someone?

YoureBeingADick · 08/10/2013 19:44

2 posters said to take the business off their list not everyone. Who said slave labour?

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 08/10/2013 19:44

There's plenty she could be doing. Feeding, grooming , observing consultations, fetching things, labelling pet carriers etc. I did WE at a vets once I was used just like this. No one talked to me , I washed bowls and cleaned the cages. Nothing else. Was shit. Didn't expect to be operating but I expected to observe a surgery or help with an animal in some way.

LittlePeaPod · 08/10/2013 19:44

So what were the 8 or 9 things she was supposed to be doing? Sorry Op but r would help to have a better picture.. If she is supporting reception but hasn't done this then I can see what you are saying but information on circumstances are a little vague.

Ragwort · 08/10/2013 19:45

Are you 100% sure? I would be inclined to let her put it down to experience, that is what many jobs are like. What sort of company is she working for, who set it up? You need to have a lot more information before you go in all guns blazing.

At my last place of work I was the only employee who would take on work experience students becuase quite honestly most of them had zero interest in learning anything and felt even doing a bit of filing was beneath them . I've said this before on mumsnet but one particularly useless w/e student said to me on her de-brief, 'this has been a total waste of time to me, my aim is to be a barrister'. She wouldn't even have been offered a job as an office junior ! Good to aim high I suppose .

DSM · 08/10/2013 19:46

Okay, there is quite obviously an element of cleaning involved in a vets surgery but not 15 hours in 3 days, no.

Has she literally only cleaned? Not observed any appointments? Taken care of any animals?

humphryscorner · 08/10/2013 19:47

What is she doing? As when I have a works experience over they shadow as much as they can in various job roles, within our company. Some times they cant do more of the interesting stuff due to heath and safety.

My DD1 spent two days of hers mucking out stables.....needless to say she didn't go back.

Call school about her break.

humphryscorner · 08/10/2013 19:47

cross post dam slow laptop

Ragwort · 08/10/2013 19:48

Actually Doin there is a skill to chopping onions and it is very useful if you want to join the hospitality industry .

I do think many young people these days have over inflated egos.

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