Cleaning interview unpaid

[Methodmenthol]

Have recently been on an interview for a part time self employed cleaning job. Part of the interview process was cleaning the company owners bedroom and bathroom unpaid. I desperately needed the job and so went ahead with it however, on telling a couple of friends a few weeks later, they both believe it wasn’t a great thing for them to have asked and one even said unethical.

I also overheard whilst cleaning that he made sure he hadn’t cleaned the bathroom for a while before I started.

Aibu to feel a bit used or is it standard practice and I agreed to it so move on? (I did get the job and have some cleaning hours)

If you're self employed, surely it's up to you

It's common these days for companies to interview, take staff on, provide a uniform, demand they defer to a boss, but label them as "self employed". It's a questionable practice which enables a manager to;

-pay no sick/holiday pay/bereavement/maternity pay
-avoid pension payments
-only pay their workers if work's available.
-set no guaranteed hours
-get rid of staff for any reason, no grounds for dismissal or notice required

It's exploiting a legal loophole and is what most of the cleaning agencies do to maximise their profits.

Am I the only one who thinks it's a genius idea?! I could arrange for cleaners to come and do "trial" cleans of my house every couple of weeks, never have to do any cleaning myself and not pay for it!!

Seriously though, it sounds very dodgy. When I hired my cleaner she just came and did the job and I paid her. If I hadn't been happy I just wouldn't have had her back again.

When I hired my cleaner she just came and did the job and I paid her. If I hadn't been happy I just wouldn't have had her back again

Exactly!

@SmileyClare

If you're self employed, surely it's up to you

It's common these days for companies to interview, take staff on, provide a uniform, demand they defer to a boss, but label them as "self employed". It's a questionable practice which enables a manager to;

-pay no sick/holiday pay/bereavement/maternity pay
-avoid pension payments
-only pay their workers if work's available.
-set no guaranteed hours
-get rid of staff for any reason, no grounds for dismissal or notice required

It's exploiting a legal loophole and is what most of the cleaning agencies do to maximise their profits.

Apparently hmrc is cracking down on this sort of thing now.

So if I was the op I'd be tempted to report them tbh.

It just reads totally wrong and as if you have been taken huge advantage of.

I do not think unpaid trials should be a thing in any industry! The hospitality industry is notorious for this with young people - absolutely disgusting.

where i used to work (professional firm) they do unpaid 'internships'. Which basically mean that they get free receptionist services from young people who are desperate for something to put on their cvs.

In the case of my former firm it was done deliberately and cynically. The cunts.

And YY to the hospitality industry being rife with this.