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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is taking advantage of people looking for work?

41 replies

Runnerduck34 · 22/04/2019 09:25

My teenage daughter is looking for a job , she went for an interview last week at an independent bistro and they liked her and invited her back for a trial shift.
She’s just completed an unpaid 6 hour shift on Easter Sunday , she couldn’t keep her tips as these are put in a jar behind the counter and shared out at the end of the week . So she’s just worked 6 hours on a bank holiday for free. At the end of the shift they said they really liked her and she’d picked it up quick , they have 5 other people doing trial shifts so they will let her know next week if she has the job. Many of her friends have experienced the same thing when looking for work and it now seems to be the norm. I think it’s outrageous! Aibu in thinking the bistro is after unpaid labour for the Easter holiday and taking the p* ?

OP posts:
Floofboopsnootandbork · 22/04/2019 09:30

Yes. 6 hours is very long for a trial and it absolutely shouldn’t have been on Easter Sunday. Hmm I’ve done trials and worked with people on trials and it’s never more than a couple of hours, working 6 hours she’s pretty much just covered someone else’s shift.

The tips thing is understandable to a point but if someone’s left a tip specifically for her then would’ve been nice for the manager to put that aside separately so she still gets her tips.

YouLikeTheBadOnesToo · 22/04/2019 09:30

Yeh, I totally agree with you. Me and dh once went on a cottage holiday, and went in the same little pub each evening. Every single night they had a different person doing a ‘trial’. I’m sure they were just exploiting free labour.

IceRebel · 22/04/2019 09:31

Whilst I don't agree with trial shifts, surely she must have known in advance there would be no pay for doing it?

Also you say she's a teenager but worked 6 hours on a Sunday. I thought there were rules in place, that meant under 16s couldn't work more than 2 hours on a Sunday? Confused

Aimily · 22/04/2019 09:33

Trial shifts are a good idea, gives the potential employee an idea of the role and the employer an idea of their skills /coping ability. But saying that, I think 6 hours Easter weekend is a bit extreme, 3 hours on a semi busy day would be better.

Swatsup · 22/04/2019 09:33

I guess it’s not really any different to work experience and hopefully if she doesn’t get the job they will at least provide a reference. Still a bit wrong though.

AppleKatie · 22/04/2019 09:36

Trial shift is one thing, 6 hours Easter Sunday and the fact they’ve got 5 more kids in doing it before they pick (one?) of them is disgraceful.

ScreamingValenta · 22/04/2019 09:37

I agree with you, OP. I think the 'trial shifts' are their way of getting free workers on Easter Sunday, with no particular intention of them leading to employment. As a pp said, 3 hours on a normal day would be reasonable - not six hours on a 'holiday' Sunday' - or, alternatively, pay the trial workers for the Easter Sunday shift.

PiggyPlumPie · 22/04/2019 09:37

That's really shitty imo. I've just started a cleaning job, two days a week.

The first shift I accompanied two others and was not expected to clean, just observe. Then I did a training day. If I decided not to proceed then I just had to let them know and they would have sent me a cheque, no questions asked.

It seems that because they are youngsters, employers think they can use them as free labour.

InspectorClouseauMNdivision · 22/04/2019 09:39

Trial shifys are great thing. Employer and the trialee see how they fit in and what the job is about.
But 6 hours is way too long. 4 hours max and we always included a meal. Plus we really just did 2 people max.

Nousernameforme · 22/04/2019 09:40

it is totally taking the piss but the law is a grey area on this so they get away with it. fwiw a full shift should be paid but its up to the worker to agree this before the shift.

LovelyJubbly67 · 22/04/2019 09:57

They are definitely taking the p*ss

CustardCreamLover · 22/04/2019 10:02

To be honest it must be a pretty crap place to work if they have time to do trial shifts on Easter Sunday! We always scheduled ours for 2 hours on a quite lunch or evening shift so we could actually watch and see how they worked and interacted with customers. I reckon she'd be better off looking elsewhere even if they do offer her a job!

RussellSprout · 22/04/2019 10:05

If she doesn't get offered the role, I'd be asking for payment and if they don't pay up, report them for failure to pay min wage.

If no one does anything to stop this, they'll just keep doing it.

Ginkythefangedhellpigofdoom · 22/04/2019 10:07

Trial shifts should be fine except they are abused by nasty owners/management to basically use free labour.

The law needs to be tightened. Imo.

tonto2012 · 22/04/2019 10:16

Totally agree OP. I use trial shifts to get an idea of what someone is like at work, and it is always a full shift.
BUT I'd never put someone on a trial on a really busy day, and I always pay them.

ForalltheSaints · 22/04/2019 10:17

Ginkythefangedhellpigofdoom I agree about legislation given legal minimum wages and also the abuse of internships.

AnyFucker · 22/04/2019 10:19

I hate this. My two got shafted a few times in a similar fashion. Fucking exploitation is what it is.

SnuggyBuggy · 22/04/2019 10:21

It's a bit convenient for the employer getting free labor

Oakenbeach · 22/04/2019 10:24

It’s exploitation, and employers are taking piss. I hope the law gets tightened up on this.

NoBaggyPants · 22/04/2019 10:24

The law is clear on this, if you're working then you are entitled to minimum wage. It's a statutory right and cannot be overridden even by mutual agreement.

Assuming she doesn't get the job (the vacancy may disappear once their busy period is over), I'd be contacting HMRC and writing them a letter asking for payment.

MarthasGinYard · 22/04/2019 10:26

CF's

They've got it all worked out haven't they

PCohle · 22/04/2019 10:27

I think a trial shift is a good idea but it should absolutely be paid and Easter Sunday is a bit cheeky.

Sadly the law on this issue just isn't clear enough. There's a decent article on it all here www.wirehouse-es.com/2018/05/24/unpaid-work-trials/

itwasadarkandstormy · 22/04/2019 10:28

this is absolutely standard in hospitality and has been this way for at least the last 30 years. so probably forever. I'm not suggesting right or wrong, just the way it is.

BigChocFrenzy · 22/04/2019 10:28

I'm completely against free trials, because too many employers - as policy - just use these as free labour

Those on trial should be paid at the standard rate for the job
Otherwise there is too much deliberate exploitation

Buster72 · 22/04/2019 10:30

Definite exploitation.....when my son was 16 he did a full shift, 8 hours, unpaid in a restaurant. At the end the manager said he would get back to him three weeks passed and the same manager called asking if he could come on at the last minute.
My son who is incredibly sweet and likes to please agreed and did another 8 hours, unpaid. After that he was more than upset as the manager made no commitment one way or the other.
A week later he got another call for another trial, luckily I was in the room when he took the call. "Ask him how much you'll get paid" I shouted. That was the end of the conversation.