What would you think about Induction during notice period?

[BananaCracker]

I'm currently on my notice period to start a new role. But my new employer have requested that I do induction training multiple times per week in my own time outside working hours from now until I start.

This will add up to nearly 20 hours of unpaid work by the time I start and is also really hard to fit in around still working my current job fulltime.

What would you think about this? On one hand it is nice that they are supporting me and I suppose they want me to be able to hit the ground running but does induction not normally take place during your first, paid, months in a new role? I of course want to show willing though in a new job.

Induction should not be in your own time no. Training is still work. Your time outside contracted hours is your own. I have heard of some employers who only pay training hours at minimum wage rather than full rate but that is pretty poor behaviour.

The question is whether this new employer can get away with such behaviour. Would you be easy to replace with half a dozen equally suitable candidates if you walked away? And could you readily find a different position?

I would not be easy to replace, no. But similarly- I could not bank on finding another role either as it is very specialist and not many around. Especially in the current economic situation. So I feel a bit like I have no choice. I was asking more to see if my instinct that this isn't right is correct - my DH thinks it is actually a good thing that they are so keen to invest time in me and want me to succeed. But I am struggling to see why that could not have waited until I formally started and was being paid by them.

Induction should definitely start when you start on the books and are being paid by them. I've never heard otherwise except in very low wage jobs where it's still not on but the staff cannot refuse as there are many people willing to do the training for the promise of a job after. It's exploitative.

Blimey doesn’t bode well and you’re in an awkward spot here. Can you not just say “sorry I cannot do this in my own time as I have other commitments”.

I do get it’s a rock and a hard place though - don’t do it you’ll be seen as “difficult” or do it and be seen as a doormat.

The only thing though - is it really five hours or is it more one of those “takes up to two hours” online things that takes most people fifteen minutes.