To think they should have been paid!

[LesMisSaigon]

Does anyone know the legality concerning working an unpaid trial shift?. My DC, who has plenty of barista experience recently did a trial shift in a coffee chain. They did not get the job well we assume not,as two weeks later they have heard nothing.I googled this and it looks like if paying customers were served, then payment must be made for hours work.

Trail shifts are an extension of of the interview
not saying I think it’s right but I wouldn’t expect to get paid if I was that bothered I wouldn’t of done it in the first place

They could argue that he wasn't doing any meaningful work which would otherwise require a competent staff member. So maybe, maybe not. Does it matter now? You can't ask them to pay retrospectively as this should have been agreed before taking a shift. So just let it go and be more prepared in the future.
I fell for that myself as a teenager. Worked two trial 12-hour shifts in a fast food place, one of which was overnight (decades ago so minimal workers rights before anyone asks) and then was told I didn't get a job. Later, I was told by one of their permanent staff that it was their modus operandi of getting teenagers fill gaps in staffing for free. They went through dozens of fools like me over their busy periods and then withdrew a vacancy.

I would have checked in advance and if it wasn't paid wouldn't have done a full shift.

It's pretty common, yet shitty, for companies to do this. Lots of unethical companies have unpayed trial shifts every day as it saves employing an extra member of staff. Let it be a lesson learnt. Next time he needs to have it spelled out in advance if it's a paid or unpaid trial.

Appalling. Fair enough to ask interviewees to serve a few coffees and clear up for half an hour, but a whole shift is far too much.

Awful. This really winds me up. It’s a pisstake, companies doing this.

It sounds awful, but apparently a lot of "professional" jobs do this too. You could argue they're at least giving them meaningful training, but a lot of young adults have said it just feels like they're being exploited, whether it's as a free photographer, cook, content creator or whatever.

Unpaid trial shift kinda gives it away…. Sorry but they agreed to it.
shame they didn’t get the job but it’s all good experience

Very typical and so very unfair . Tell him to be glad he didn't get the job . Don't want to work for such cunts.

Places like this do that all the time to get free labour out of desperate people. Don't bother and don't give them your custom either. In fact, you should name and shame them so others can avoid.

Had this happen to me at 20 when I went for a job as a waitress at Miller & Carter. Had experience and did a 3 hour trial shift, which I had to pay to get very specific clothes for, only to never be contacted. I rang them 2 weeks later and asked if I got the job. I didn't even give my name, just said I had done a trial shift and hadn't heard back and was met with an instant "no, sorry". So very obvious what they are doing and it shouldn't be legal, though I'm not sure it even is.

They weren't told it was going to be unpaid before hand!

That’s not clear in the original post to be fair.

A couple of hours, fine to be unpaid providing they’re being assessed as part of the interview process. But a full shift is too long, and heading right into a grey area.

Well, if they had known it was not going to be paid, I would not be here enquiring about it.As they would not have worked the shift