Unpaid trial shift - would you do this?

[trialshift2022]

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.

If anyone thinks a decent, profitable business can be run with using people doing 30 minute trial shifts, they're nuts!

I thought this type of thing was illegal under minimum wage rules??

@Seeline

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

Unfortunately many catering places do this to get free staff to infill when their short staffed so they don't have to pay for temporary catering agency workers.

30 mins isn't a trial shift. It's just so they can see how you are in action. I'd ask if they will cover travel expenses though.

@trialshift2022

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.

Better to try and potentially gain, rather than not try, and achieve nothing

No. My son has just done a trial shift at a pub. He got paid.

I'd 100% do a 30 minute trial shift for free. Even an hour. It's less time then you'd spend in an interview. You don't get paid for interviews either and you're hardly making them money while they show you the ropes?

@Hertsgirl10

My son had to do this in The Range, didn’t get the job but did 6 hours stacking shelves, about 25 of them. He didn’t get the job. He thinks they just get people to do it once a week to get free shelf stackers! The job is always on indeed.

That's outrageous!

@BoredZelda

I don't see the difference between this and an hour's interview where you have to do a presentation, which is fairly common in office jobs. It can takes hours to prepare a presentation!

An interview with a job presentation doesn’t usually give the prospective employer any work product. A similar situation for office work would be if they asked you to come in and answer the phones all day or do the filing or whatever.

A thirty minute trial is hardly going to make the employer money, though!

I'd do a 30 minutes unpaid trial but not at a location I couldn't easily get to.

My daughter did this but hers was for a few hours. They did hire her at the end and she’s been there three years (part time mostly around her studies), they are great employers. It’s very common in London, don’t let it put you off. I don’t think you should ask for travel expenses either, if you’re applying for a job there it’s something you need to factor in.

This happened to me recently. I had a trial shift for a part time baking job. I was there from 10-3 and they didn’t pay me. They wanted an experienced pastry chef so I understand why they want a trial shift, but I did think ok if you’re not going to pay for the trial shift then it’s not really right to expect them to be there for more than an hour.

Now you’re making me want to send the woman an email 😂 it was over an hour away and bloody exhausting

Sorry meant to add that I wasn’t sure if that was just the norm now?

Years ago when I was baking I was always paid for trial shifts!

costa coffee did this for ds, Twice,
full shifts
i wrote an email and complained and he got paid

Absolutely not I’m sure of the people of already said this but will they be insured for you given that you’re not an employee and you’re on the premises what if you burn yourself or fall trip. I would not want my children to do this and would be very forceful in my opinion they shouldn’t

Could you wait until they have opened near you and then if they have any vacancies apply then

My understanding is trial shifts are pretty standard for the restaurant industry as if you can't deal with the pace and stress of the kitchen it's not the job for you. And it's to your benefit too to find that out before accepting the job.

I must admit I don't really understand your objections, yes it's a faff of a journey but if this wouldn't be your normal working location it's just a one-off. And half an hour isn't even really a trial shift, it's just like an interview task really. As others have pointed out, all jobs require some degree of unpaid time investment to apply and attend interview/tasks etc. My current job had a 5 stage application process! Including an assessment day at the company headquarters which is 2 hours from me (my normal working location is a local regional centre). But then my job is very vocational - restaurant work walks a line where for some people it's a vocation and for others just a job. Obviously you feel like the latter and it seems like you don't want this job enough to go to any inconvenience to get it, so probably best just leave it.

Don't do it. You are worth more than that. I think it is a piss take and should be made illegal.

Fine if they want to test you serving a customer, pulling a pint, servingetc - but this should take not take more than 10 minutes and form part of the interview process.

Surely a probationary period would allow any employer to terminate the employment if they thought someone was not suitable.

I'm not even sure where you would stand insurance wise as you would not be an employee nor a customer.

I travelled 200 miles to Northampton and stayed overnight in a B&B for a half day job interview for Virgin Cabin Crew when I was 18. I didn't get the job 🤣

Surely a probationary period would allow any employer to terminate the employment if they thought someone was not suitable.

It is much more costly and time-consuming
for companies to onboard an employee then lose them within a few months and have to start the recruitment process all over again than it is to weed out fundamentally unsuitable people during the recruitment process. It's a fact working in a restaurant isn't for everyone, some people find the pace and pressure unbearable, and turnover is already high in the industry. It's not exactly great for employees either to spend a month or two in high stress then get fired. Often that time would be better spent looking for a job they could actually do long term.

I'm in the service industry. It's common place. And, ask for my interviewees to do trials. It shouldn't be labelled as a trial really. It's a second stage interview. It's your chance to see if the role is for you as well. Gives you taster of the role, the team and the dynamic. Gives you a chance to chat with the existing team get idea about the culture and you will hear both good and bad things. It also gives the hiring manager an idea of how well you will do, where training or upskilling is needed, whether you will fit with the team and if they can work with you. I'd go for it. Not everyone gets offered a trial. It shouldn't be viewed as free work. They usually don't last more than 2/3 hours. At the end they will either job offer you or give you feedback. That's your time to ask any questions and get more clarity on the role and expectations. It also gives you an in valuable insight to the business and whether industry is right for you. Good luck

I didn't think anyone was paid for a trial shift I've done trial shifts in a restaurant and cafe and both was unpaid. I did get both the jobs after the trial shifts and it didn't cost me anything has both places I could walk too.

My friend did a few hours trial shift for a waiting staff job. She shadowed a member of staff and was then offered the job.

We have people show up expecting an interview and they are put to work. I always feel bad for them because they are never told beforehand. I do try not to keep them for to long. I would never get someone to do a full shift. It is a good way of seeing who will be good at the job. But also they get to see what the job is like and if they actually want to do it. Usually my boss lets me choose who I want to get the job. I always look for a good attitude and willingness to get stuck in. I don't expect them to do an impressive workload just a willingness to try. So for me it is a great way of choosing because some people are great in interviews but in practice pretty lazy.

30 minutes is fine. I'm a teacher and when I go for interviews I generally have to teach a lesson for an hour in addition to the formal interview.