Strange interview/work situation

syklops

Hi,

I know the thread title is a bit awkward but let me explain.

My girlfriend(polish national with a masters degree) is looking for a job at the moment. Currently she works in tech support for eircom, which is a waste after spending 7 years in college. During her hunt, CPL came to her with a job with Activision, the games company. It was a sort of general IT support admin. looking after PC's and the LAN etc. She had the interview which went ok, but they said they wanted to see how she worked and asked her to come in for 4 days to work so they could get a feel for her. They said they would pay her, and there may be overtime as well so she agreed.

She got unpaid leave from Eircom and went and worked for them for four days, along with another guy, who was also up for the position. Their job was to kit out the new building with all the equipment that was needed, so she spent the 4 days moving boxes with computers and phones upsatirs, unpacking them and installing them. Everything sounds fine so far.

Then, next week she went back to work and a few days later was told she did not get the job. Out of curiosity I asked her to ask CPL if the other guy got the job, and a straight answer has not come back from CPL.

Call me cynical, but I think they never intended in giving them the job. I think they just wanted some cheap labour for 4 days to get the office set up. Which I think is wrong, because you have to wonder, had their been an accident, who would have been responsible? Not to mention that its a pretty dodgy way of doing business.

In the meantime, she has not been paid yet, and emails are going back and forth with CPL saying activision should have paid her, but they haven't.

Has anyone any comments or similar stories? And if anyone knows of any IT roles which would suit a Polish national with a Masters in IT, let me know also.

Thanks

flash harry

sounds bad - I'd make it very clear to the recruitment agency that they are the ones who set this up and said she'd be paid and that you will sue and make plenty of noise about it........

Ibjiba

Contact CPL and ask to see their agreement with Activision, to see that they really were looking for someone. Of course, they may not want to give out this information...

Another way to go is for her to contact CPL and say that she suspects she was discriminated (sex, foreigner, etc.). If she believes she has experienced discrimination she has the right to look for information. Therefore she can ask CPL to tell her who was hired for the position, thus she can find out if anyone really was hired.

I would also advice her to ask CPL to provide feedback on what grounds she was not hired.

Lastly, she can rate CPL here (http://www.irishemployers.com/index.php?topic=62.0) to let others know how they are behaving (whether good or bad).

damnyanks

While what they did seems unfair and does come across as them looking for cheap labour, is it really illegal?

syklops

well if she was not on a contract while she was being paid, then who was responsible if she got injured? Also, she has to pay emergency tax on the money she earned because she could not get her P45 because she was already in a job. Its maybe not illegal but to me, the whole situation stinks.

PeakOutput

this sounds real dodgy but probably not illegal

contract wise if i understand correctly even a contract was not signed there would still be a verbal contract in play here.....work for us for four days and we will pay you x...........after that standard employment law would apply for all the nitty gritty i believe

Spud83

I am wrong or since CPL arranged the job dont they normally do the pay as well?

syklops

CPL are saying activision should pay. Is it time to ring my solicitor yet? Or should I get onto CPL and complain first?

Spud83

I would go through CPL first, then to the HR department of activison. I would try the Department of Employment before incurring the expense of a solicitor.

http://www.entemp.ie/

flash harry

alanmurphy83 wrote:

I would go through CPL first, then to the HR department of activison. I would try the Department of Employment before incurring the expense of a solicitor.

http://www.entemp.ie/

agreed, and copy SENIOR people as well as HR and Recruitment consultant...I think Aine Hanaratty is CPL's MD

the_syco

CPL should pay you. Any and all jobs through CPL, CPL pay you. The companies give CPL money, and CPL gives the money to the employees.

Ibjiba

flash harry wrote:

agreed, and copy SENIOR people as well as HR and Recruitment consultant...I think Aine Hanaratty is CPL's MD

Very good idea. If CPL is playing hard, let them know who you are talking to.

flash harry

the_syco wrote:

CPL should pay you. Any and all jobs through CPL, CPL pay you. The companies give CPL money, and CPL gives the money to the employees.

Not necessarily true, especially if it was with a view to permanent role or lont term contract.............

ntlbell

ops i'm an idiot

the_syco

flash harry wrote:

Not necessarily true, especially if it was with a view to permanent role or lont term contract.............

From experience with CPL, thats the way they usually operate(HP, IBM, etc), but what you say could also be true.

Dathai

Get her to fax her timesheet in again from a fax, probably been a problem with the fax she used.CPL are known to use timesheets with temps / contract workers.

Happened to me a few times.

As for the job, I would say the other guy got it.