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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Unpaid trial shift - would you do this?

129 replies

trialshift2022 · 02/04/2022 11:58

I applied for a second job at a restaurant that will be opening this month, they rang me a few days later and asked me to come in for a trial shift at one of their other locations, it’s unpaid and last a few hours, and it will take me over an hour to get there with public transport? I live in London.

I said yes at first, but now thinking about it I don’t know if I want to go. I will basically be working for a few hours for them, unpaid whilst making them money and then all that money I’ll spending on transport, and then there’s the possibility of me not getting the job at all.

What do you think? It’s on Monday.

OP posts:
CheesusWept · 02/04/2022 12:00

No chance.
If they won’t pay for ‘trial’ shifts, just imagine how shit they’ll be to work for.

Seeline · 02/04/2022 12:01

My DS is a student and has had this for several jobs he applied for recently. I think it is becoming standard.

balalake · 02/04/2022 12:02

Say no. Whilst I think it is genuine and could lead to a job, many times it seems restaurants and pubs do this to get free labour at busy times.

WallaceinAnderland · 02/04/2022 12:03

No. It's really hard to get good staff. You don't have to work for nothing to prove yourself. Just politely decline. They don't sound like people you would want to work for anyway.

ComtesseDeSpair · 02/04/2022 12:04

They’re common in hospitality because it takes a lot of time of other staff members to show you the various ropes and you might be more trouble than benefit. Personally I’d think of it like a job interview - you can spend hours applying for a job, preparing for an interview, creating a presentation, doing the interview/s etc and not get the job but it’s just part of the process.

Malbecfan · 02/04/2022 12:04

No. My 20 yo DD did a trial shift for a local cafe, having already got experience in another local restaurant and ice cream shop. She was paid full-rate for it, and then got the job.

I think it's exploitation not to pay you.

Hadalifeonce · 02/04/2022 12:07

If you want the job, can you ask about them paying your travel expenses as it's not the location you will be working at?

StripeyDeckchair · 02/04/2022 12:07

No
OnlyCFs do this
If they don't respect your time enough to pay you for a trial then it's not going to be a good organisation to work for.

Hopefullyoneday12 · 02/04/2022 12:09

This is normal. Absolutely the standard thing for hospitality roles in London.
It's because staff turnover is so high there's no point training someone up if they can't catch on to things pretty quickly. And you can't tell that from a cv or an interview sometimes.
I have in the past agreed to an unpaid trial shift but let them know I can only do 1.5 - 2 hours as with travelling to and from that is all I have available. Never been a problem if discussed in advance.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 02/04/2022 12:15

No. Trial shifts are absolutely fine, but they need to pay you for them.

I've heard of quite a few businesses who rely on a constant ream of "trial shifts" to basically get free labour on busy shifts. It's a shitty way to hire someone.

If you expect them to contribute to your business, you should at least have the decency to pay them for their time!

I suspect in a few years, so-called "unpaid trials" will be illegal and we'll look back on them with a fair bit of horror, tbh. It's such a shitty way to treat someone.

Original poster
trialshift2022 · 02/04/2022 12:17

Yeah sorry made the mistake, it's not a few hours. Just a 30 min trial shift, still unpaid. It's going to take me 1 bus and 2 trains to get there. I'd still feel like an idiot working for free, and there's a big possibility I won't get the job. I don't even understand why companies are allowed to do unpaid trial shift, should be illegal. Can't imagine the people that's been used for free labour and not gotten the job afterwards.

OP posts:
nomistake · 02/04/2022 12:18

No, they could be doing unpaid trials every day and basically not paying for staffing. If they can afford to employ someone they can afford to pay for the trial.

mumda · 02/04/2022 12:20

No.

Would you be insured?
How many trial shifts will they be running?

Peaseblossum22 · 02/04/2022 12:21

Completely standard around here. I don’t agree with it but it does seem to be normal.

CharlotteUnaNatalieThompson · 02/04/2022 12:22

A trial shift for 30 minutes is a completely different situation to one for several hours. The first is an interview. The second is exploitation.

YABVU to expect them to pay you for attending an interview. Although they may pay travel expenses, some do

MayMorris · 02/04/2022 12:22

@trialshift2022

Yeah sorry made the mistake, it's not a few hours. Just a 30 min trial shift, still unpaid. It's going to take me 1 bus and 2 trains to get there. I'd still feel like an idiot working for free, and there's a big possibility I won't get the job. I don't even understand why companies are allowed to do unpaid trial shift, should be illegal. Can't imagine the people that's been used for free labour and not gotten the job afterwards.
If it’s 30 mins it sounds more genuine. Explain the issue. Ask them if they’ll pay travel expenses if you don’t get offered the job. That seems fair.
ComtesseDeSpair · 02/04/2022 12:23

But if you were being interviewed for e.g. an office job you’d expect to have to travel there wouldn’t you?

I think thirty minutes is fine. Enough time to establish you’re not completely incompetent . Not so long that it’s free labour for them.

TwoBlondes · 02/04/2022 12:24

DD did a four hour unpaid trial shift at Ottolenghi. They then asked her to do a second one! She refused.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 02/04/2022 12:24

@trialshift2022

Yeah sorry made the mistake, it's not a few hours. Just a 30 min trial shift, still unpaid. It's going to take me 1 bus and 2 trains to get there. I'd still feel like an idiot working for free, and there's a big possibility I won't get the job. I don't even understand why companies are allowed to do unpaid trial shift, should be illegal. Can't imagine the people that's been used for free labour and not gotten the job afterwards.
I think that's totally different to impression you gave in your OP.

Most interviews last longer than that.

erinaceus · 02/04/2022 12:24

At 30 minutes it sounds more like an interview than a trial shift. In this case, if you are interested in the job and they are interested in you as a candidate, can you discuss whether they can cover your travel expenses to and from the interview?

RewildingAmbridge · 02/04/2022 12:24

This was standard in restaurants when I was a student and working in bars and restaurants around twenty years ago, usually a couple of hours to show you around, buddy you with someone and let you get on with it. You need initiative to work in those environments and to be willing to graft many don't have those qualities. I understand why they do it. In terms of paying you, you're not really adding anything to the business, if anything you're taking up the time of other staff. You wouldn't ask to be paid to go to an interview or recruitment day. For my current role there was a full day assessment followed by a second day (if you passed) with a thirty minute presentation and a panel interview that took about ninety minutes, of course none of the applicants were paid.

MayMorris · 02/04/2022 12:25

@trialshift2022

Yeah sorry made the mistake, it's not a few hours. Just a 30 min trial shift, still unpaid. It's going to take me 1 bus and 2 trains to get there. I'd still feel like an idiot working for free, and there's a big possibility I won't get the job. I don't even understand why companies are allowed to do unpaid trial shift, should be illegal. Can't imagine the people that's been used for free labour and not gotten the job afterwards.
Or say, if they won’t pay expenses if you don’t get the job, that the trial shift will need to be at the place you are applying to… If you haven’t applied to work at the place the trial is at because of the distance and travel, it is not unreasonable to say you can’t afford the costs to travel there for 30 mins trial.
MadeForThis · 02/04/2022 12:25

30 mins is essentially an activity in a practical interview

If you were invited for a 30 min interview would you go?

GreenClock · 02/04/2022 12:27

I dislike the idea of a full trial shift - it seems exploitative - but 30 minutes is legit I think, because it’s the length of an interview.

ISpyCobraKai · 02/04/2022 12:28

It's 30 minutes, you don't sound that keen on the job if you can't do that.
Most interviews last longer and they don't cover expenses.