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.

I think if they expect you to work a whole shift then they should pay you. You're providing labour so they should compensate you. I think employers that do unpaid trial shifts are likely to not be respectful of you as an employee.

30 minutes sounds more like a job interview though. I know that some companies are now paying people for job interviews which I think is really great, but it's definitely not common. I would say 30 minutes is reasonable.

@trialshift2022

The thing is I work Monday to Friday at my current job, and I'd have to go straight from my job to the trial shift which is on the other side of London. It's just too long, too much money being spent without a guarantee of a job.

To those saying" well it's just like a 30 min interview?" Yeah but I wouldn't apply for a job on the other side of London, so I'd never had a interview that far. I always have distance in mind whenever I apply for jobs tbh.

I've emailed them explaining my reasons and id have to pass on this one.

But you applied for this job which is on the other side of London.

Old thread but I done this myself and worked a busy Saturday free in a restaurant and behind their bar didn't get the job so was effectively used and they didn't tell me it was unpaid so absolutely never ever do this

Nope, not a chance!