Excessive requests before starting a new job

[EL8888]

I’m starting a new job next month, l have completed all of the HR documents, referencing, bank forms etc etc. Today l wake up to 9 long documents relating to me my new job (NOT related to my start or HR, related to the role). I’m poised to send them an email saying l will attend them when l start. I’m a little annoyed they are trying to get me to do stuff in advance. They know lm still at my old job so why all of the requests. They aren’t paying me yet!

@felulageller think product type specifications e.g. size of saw, what it’s made from, length of guarantee, supplier etc.

Not local authority

Given the description you’ve just given about the documents - yes it’s unreasonable to expect you to read them in advance!

@GemmaRuby

Amazed at how many people are willing to work for free!

I agree.

OP isn’t on the payroll yet, and this is what induction days are for. It’s taking presenteeism one step too far for me

Totally unreasonable!

Sorry - totally unreasonable of them I mean!

@Candleinthebreeze

If mumsnet was a village, I think we just found the village idiot

Hope you’re not one of my employees

Offensive and stupid comment.

I would reply "Thank you for the documents. I will read them on [insert start date]. EL".

Actually laughing a bit at the outrage and insults being flung around on this thread! Some from supposedly professional career women.

@Candleinthebreeze

If mumsnet was a village, I think we just found the village idiot

Hope you’re not one of my employees

Couldn't agree more.

Doesn't sound like this is going to work out for you OP with the attitude you currently have. And as you stated you are in demand and they need you more than you need them, on that basis I would look for somewhere else.

We don’t edge our way into taking an extra few holidays a year so they shouldn’t edge their way into getting a few hours a week unpaid work?

Some of us edge our way into bonuses and better payrises though

Lots of black and white thinking on this thread

I agree in principle with OP but ffs see the bigger picture. First impressions and all that

YANBU OP. Reading this stuff is part of the job - and they're not paying you to work yet. If you are an experienced professional and work in an industry where your skills are in high demand, you do not need to spend your spare time proving that you deserve this job before you've even started it. Unless the documents relate to some sort of essential security / safety clearance, there is no urgency.

I'd just reply politely "Thank you for sending this through, I will work through these documents as part of my induction programme when I start on [date]."

Woah some people on here are right pushovers.
Until you are on the payroll, unless it's some HR required reading tell them you'll be happy to review once you have started.

@Dollywilde

I’m really surprised by these responses. I’m in a professional role and I have in the past asked for stuff to be sent to me. Equally I once had a role where they sent me stuff but very much stressed it was just in case I wanted to read up, but there was no expectation as they were aware I was still with my old employer. I’d be surprised and put out to get ‘homework’ from a job before I was on payroll. For starters, I’m always flat out in the final weeks finishing a job because I’m doing handover etc.

Good point - the last few weeks are usually hectic for me when I've changed roles too. (also in a professional role).

I'm actually shocked by the number of people who think that not wanting to work for free before she's even started reflects badly on the OP. And I'm someone who routinely works well in excess of my contracted hours.

You could’ve probably read them in the time it’s taken you to read comments and type replies to this thread.

If it's product specs they probably won't mean much until you join. I'd skim read do I had an idea of the content and then look more when I knew how much of it I'd need to recall off top of my head. Else I'd just check the spec document each time anyway.

@absolutelyknackeredcow

How senior are you? Absolutely normal for middle management upwards I had several days of work to do before j started my current job.

I am absolutely a manager that treats people with respect and pays them fairly/ ensures they get time off for additional work but we need out of hours working to deliver our core function.

Are you talking about your employees being on (paid) standby?

I do agree that you shouldn't be doing proper work before your start date, but I don't know why you're calling this single piece of work 'excessive'.
It sounds like one email.

It's a bit odd - either you're senior enough to either query why they're sending it to you ie what is their expectation, or to say you are committed to your current position and will start new one on [date]; OR you are not that senior, and not being paid well enough to work for free, in which case they're taking the piss.

Either case should either have been explained or discussed with you prior to you signing the contract.

Haven't you worked somewhere that has had policies before?

Seriously, just skim read them and tick the box.

If it's actual work though, absolutely no way would I be doing that before I started.

I don’t quite understand what the paperwork is. If it’s contract related then read it.

One minute lm reading 35 pages in my own time, next minute lm working until 10pm with no extra pay or TOIL

That's one hell of a stretch. It's perfectly possible to spend half an hour reading stuff before you start the job and to make it clear you're not doing free overtime.

I work in a field where new starters probably haven't worked before, so it's quite a steep learning curve. Most actually ask what they should be reading before they start, and we don't take that as the green light to expecting them to work 12 hour days.

FFS I always get a copy of policies and procedures to read before I start a job. Things like their approach to maternity, sick leave, annual leave etc are all things a new starter should WANT to know before day 1.

That's not 'unpaid work' - its for your own benefit!

Me personally I can understand your perspectives op, however it's the £ that pays the bills, although I understand your already in a current role.

My perspectives are, you join the security services, and it's 10pm on Sunday and an intelligence briefing is needed and a car is on the way to collect you, ect.

My point yes not every position or company would require that level of flexibility, however to be on top of events, projects, tasks, ect , I would be flexible as needed to make sure I was doing the best I could, especially then for when I need to request favours from management, e.g. Emergency appointment, emergence situation ect that I need to complete.

@listentomydeclaration

FFS I always get a copy of policies and procedures to read before I start a job. Things like their approach to maternity, sick leave, annual leave etc are all things a new starter should WANT to know before day 1.

That's not 'unpaid work' - its for your own benefit!

It's not policies and procedures. Have you RTFT? OP says it's things like product specs.

@TheOrigRights thanks for reminding people, l have said a few times. It’s NOT policies, it’s NOT HR things. It’s to do with the role. I did state that in my original post…

I don't understand this thread. OP has clearly explained it's not policies, or anything HR.

So, no. She shouldn't be having to read this prior to job starting.