To think they've made a massive mistake here?

[PepsiColaaa]

I've recently started a new job working from home. I was miserable in my old one and wanted to try something completely different. I found this job online via an agency who was recruiting for a company and they put me forward for an interview. I was offered the job last month, my equipment arrived last week and I started my training yesterday. It is only minimum wage but it was a way for me to get experience in this type of work (I've done the same jobs for 10 years). The job was advertised as working Mon-Fri 9-5 with weekends off and when I spoke to a lady from the agency she confirmed that over the phone to.

This morning whilst we were all on teams (8 of us) the trainer asked everyone to explain why they had applied for the role. One person said it was because they had a family and wanted to spend more time with their kids on the weekends etc. At that point the trainer must have realised and asked us all if we knew it was shift work. Apparently they operate 7 days a week 8-8 Mon-Fri and 9-6 on weekends and we would be expected to work shifts. They are also open during all public holidays (even Christmas Day ). I explained that there had been no mention of any shift work at all and I was under the impression that it was Mon-Fri. Everyone else said the same. Apparently we only work that during the 2 weeks training and then we start working on a rota basis.

It's not a huge problem for me as I've worked shifts before and I don't have any other commitments, but I think it's terrible that the agency have given all the applicants the wrong information. Some people have even left their jobs to take this one. One lady said she wouldn't have taken the job if she had known it was shift working as she has other commitments on weekends. Obviously some wires have been crossed but AIBU to think this is a huge cock up on the agency's part? Or maybe even the company itself if they've not passed the correct information on?

We're all stuck now and unless we want to be unemployed we need to continue with the job...

Never ever trust recruitment agencies. They are sales people at the end of the day. Don’t have your best interests at heart 99.9% of the time!)

What a disaster. But I've seen it happen before.

What may happen with your weekend away is if you let them know going forwards you'll work weekends, then in the interests of staff retention they may allow it. Reiterate the mix up, gesture of goodwill etc.

Recruiting is expensive, but they may just take a flat line approach, say to you all sorry for the cock up, but this is the role, take it or leave it, then kick up a stink for a refund from the agency for the fees for lost staff/fees for new ones or whatever.

Hope you get it sorted.

No update as of yet - I messaged someone to explain about the weekend that I'd already booked months ago and they basically said that I'd have to wait until the rota is sent out and then they'll try and get it off for me if I'm down to work. I explained that I wasn't actually requesting it off, I was telling them and if they want to wait until then and risk not having a staff member then that's up to them. One lady can't train on Monday as she has no child care with it being a bank holiday (agency never made us aware that we'd be working public holidays either) and if she can't attend then it will be put down as sickness or an unauthorised absence. I suspect they will do the same to me if I'm down to work that weekend and don't turn up.

A manager came into the meeting this morning and explained that they are aware of the mix up and are still dealing with it and will get back to us but in the meantime they don't want this "issue" to affect the training. I suspect the trainer is fed up and has gone and told him that we have complained. One man even said there's not much point in us training until we find out what is expected of us in regards to shifts. All seems a bit pointless at the minute really. The trainer isn't the best. She seems to take offence every time someone asks a question about the work bizarre. I'm just going with the flow and seeing what happens.

It's not really an "issue" from their perspective, certainly not a massive one. This sounds like the kind of work where they take people on in bulk and consider them disposable - if people don't pass the training, don't like the conditions, or don't suit them for any reason then they won't care about letting them go and taking on someone else.

Same as warehouse work or any setting where low paid workers are being recruited en masse. The argument about recruitment being expensive and the employer therefore wanting to retain you by adjusting simply doesn't hold water - the recruitment agency usually gets paid a % of each payroll, so if you don't last long enough to get paid they don't have to pay the agency and stop paying as soon as you leave.

And induction training is something they'll be doing on a rolling basis, it's not the "investment" type of expense of an induction or training for a one-off hire or into a professional role. They will have budgeted for "wastage" of people dropping out. They always do in these situations.

It's not the same as recruitment into professional roles.

If anyone in your intake can't or won't work the hours this employer wants then they'll dismiss them and find someone else. It's a mistake for any of you to think you have any power here or that this is something you can "fight" (at least not to win anyhow).

@evianlion absolutely - I'm not interested in fighting them about it. I've already explained my position and told them I can (reluctantly) work the shifts but that I'm unable to work that specific weekend and it's tough. They can take it or leave it and if they dismiss me I'll just find something else. By the looks of it most of the trainees will be leaving anyway unless the company can accommodate them. We're already halfway through the training so we'll see what they decide to do at this point. The trainer is absolutely shit anyway and I'm not sure I want to continue at this point. Nobody understands the work and the trainer keeps on losing her patience with us, even though she's throwing a 100 things at us and expects us to take it all in on the 3rd day of training. Ridiculous

[quote PepsiColaaa]@AnonymousCheerleader I'd prefer not to say what company it is just incase, sorry! I know what you mean about warning other people though. [/quote]
@PepsiColaaa leave a review on Glassdoor.co.uk

Yeh, it doesn't sound great. If it was tolerable I'd probably use it to pay my bills while I found something else. If it wasn't then I'd walk.

The places with bulk cheap recruitment do tend to oversell themselves then treat employees poorly. Their employees are so disposable to them I think there's often a tendency to stop seeing them as people. Both by the agencies they use and the employer.

If that's the kind of work you need right now it's a case of finding the least bad option.

The trainer is absolutely shit anyway

Hardly a surprise; an employer like that won't be able to attract and retain quality (emphasis on the retain because they might get 'em but certainly won't keep 'em)

Infuriating thing is, they probably whine to everyone who'll listen about the "unreliable types" who don't even stay five minutes

OP, check the contract to make sure you'll get paid for the training. As a pp said, some unscrupulous employers try to get away with not paying even when it's compulsory.

Sounds like other pp's are right - that they work on a model of high staff turnover and low margins, so accept people will leave. On the other hand high turnover may mean they need you more, and you taking that weekend off might then be tolerated without any repercussions. Sounds like you'll be looking for another job before long anyway.

The recruitment agency is probably paid either a flat fee per 'introduction' or a retainer for a certain number of trainees supplied, but with no sliding scale of refunds if staff leave in first weeks/months (which is an incentive to be honest about hours etc).

@WineIsMyMainVice

Never ever trust recruitment agencies. They are sales people at the end of the day. Don’t have your best interests at heart 99.9% of the time!)

I am a Sales person and have been for over 30 years . I won’t touch Recruitment, it’s hardcore

It's a shocking way to treat people, sounds like they're "pretending" there is a mix up. Someone, somewhere, messed up!