Is it illegal to work for nothing?

Vanhalla

just wondering. do employers have to pay you?

dudara

Moved to Work & Jobs

dudara

WIZE

Volunteer ?

BlueLepreachaun

I've done unpaid internship work to gain experience, so I don't know...

I think it depends if your classified as an "employee" or an "intern" , since the miniumum wage is probably just for employees.

blackbetty69

i wouldnt be a very happy camper workin for nothin

Sweets70

It's not illegal because you are strictly speaking a volunteer if it's completely unpaid. However it all depends. Big companies have had unpaid internships for donkey's years because they are who they are and it's brand recognition for the CV (and their wise to that). Companies now however are offering unpaid internships in the place of jobs they previously paid 40K for and whether you want to do these very much depends on what you’re looking for. If its experience then its worth it I guess. Especially in these times because as I said the internships with the big organisations that have run them for years etc have always been a bit competitive but now they are ultra.

Times have changed now. If you need the experience internships are pretty much the only way to get it because you just won't be hired however people can not go into internships thinking that they will then get a paid job. It doesn't work like that. In most cases you won't get one with that company.

Vanhalla

its work experience and im gettin 50 quid a week, if im lucky!
was just wondering

BlueLepreachaun

blackbetty69 wrote: »

i wouldnt be a very happy camper workin for nothin

People just do it for experience, usually only a few hours a week.
I don't think anyone does the full 40 hour week at a permenant job for nothing (though junior docs do hoardes of unpaid overtime..)

Vanhalla

BlueLepreachaun wrote: »

People just do it for experience, usually only a few hours a week.
I don't think anyone does the full 40 hour week at a permenant job for nothing (though junior docs do hoardes of unpaid overtime..)

im feckin doin it! sick of it too

Sweets70

BlueLepreachaun wrote: »

People just do it for experience, usually only a few hours a week.
I don't think anyone does the full 40 hour week at a permenant job for nothing (though junior docs do hoardes of unpaid overtime..)

Yes they do. Believe me they are everywhere. Although, obviously, they are not supposed to be over 20 hours a week. But if you ain't paying people there is no record so..................

TY students are different. They are supposed to be there for the length of the school day. All part of the training for life.

BlueLepreachaun

Vanhalla wrote: »

im feckin doin it! sick of it too

40 hours a week for no pay isn't internship its slave labour..

I wasn't paid for my TY work, but I did enjoy it, learned that IT was not the place I wanted to work.

Sweets70

BlueLepreachaun wrote: »

40 hours a week for no pay isn't internship its slave labour..

I wasn't paid for my TY work, but I did enjoy it, learned that IT was not the place I wanted to work.

That's the way things are going. Although a lot places just pay under the dole wage for their 'interns'. You need experience to get a job and you can't get experience without a job. It's a vicious cycle and it is tough out there.

TY students are a different story. No one actually expects anything from them. I know because I've had them hanging around for a month. They just hang around and do bits and pieces and the office tries to make it a nicve experience for them.

BlueLepreachaun

Sweets70 wrote: »

That's the way things are going. Although a lot places just pay under the dole wage for their 'interns'. You need experience to get a job and you can't experience without a job. It's a vicious cycle and it is tough out there.

TY students are a different story. No one actually expects anything from them. I know because I've had them hanging around for a month. They just hang around and do bits and pieces and the office tries to make it a nicve experience for them.

I was given a load of small projects to do, and had to deal with a few technical problems.
While I enjoyed the projects I realized I dont have the paitence for IT, and woudn't derive any real satisfaction from the job.

Sweets70

BlueLepreachaun wrote: »

I was given a load of small projects to do, and had to deal with a few technical problems.
While I enjoyed the projects I realized I dont have the paitence for IT, and woudn't derive any real satisfaction from the job.

Well that was an obviously worthwhile experience for you. But in most cases they really just hang around and get given little jobs.

smelltheglove

I did work experience for a solicitors when I was young, I had one day per week however one of the staff fell ill and whenever I had an extra day off they would ask me to come in and I'd get paid £20 or so for the day. When I left college they then took me in for a couple of months until I sorted myself with another job. Throughout the time I was there though not one of my classmates got paid for their time for work experience.

I suppose it would also depend on the line of business also, doctors and solicitors generally to internships with long hours but for lesser qualified jobs it is not always required to do so many hours. I would be inclined to speak to your tutor about it, explain you are not enjoying it, that the hours are getting on top of you and they may be able to advise you better than anyone here. Company may just be chancing their arms.

Priapus

Vanhalla wrote: »

just wondering. do employers have to pay you?

No not illegal. No emplyers don't have to pay you (if you are willingly working for free)

Stuxnet

there is a plasterer that works with us, and pays his brazilian lads 35 euros a day ! thats slave labour !