Work Placement Programme dilemma

catwoman2012

Hi all, i'm 2 months into a 9 month work placement programme, the boss has mentioned me doing more hours, can she up my hours even though the hours advertised and the hours i accepted to do was 25? am i wrong or isn't this just meant to be work experience, not me covering extra hours because she's having problems with other staff?:( if anyone has any info that can help me when she puts this to me again i would be very very greatful, i don't want to give up on the wpp but i don't wanna be made a fool of either.

Sala

To be honest I'd just say no, you are not doing more hours. She's not even paying you!

catwoman2012

Hi Sala, thanks, i intend to say no but i'd rather have the right info to back why i'm saying no, i don't want her to turn around and say i'm not interested in the placement, if you get me. She knows that the hours are a min of 25 max of 40 which is honestly ridiculous unless the placement is for a lesser amount of months, it can be from 2-9 months, but the advertised placement was 25 hours, for 9 months so i don't think that can be changed once placeement has started but i don't know for sure??! she thinks because it says you can do up to 40 hours that she has the right to up the hours because she needs extra staff, i'm not meant to be there in place of staff she is short of i'm just there to gain experience and a possible job at the end of it! stressed!

stargazer 68

Op did you get the placement directly with the company - as in apply yourself or through somewhere else i.e fas etc?

freeze4real

catwoman2012 wrote: »

Hi all, i'm 2 months into a 9 month work placement programme, the boss has mentioned me doing more hours, can she up my hours even though the hours advertised and the hours i accepted to do was 25? am i wrong or isn't this just meant to be work experience, not me covering extra hours because she's having problems with other staff?:( if anyone has any info that can help me when she puts this to me again i would be very very greatful, i don't want to give up on the wpp but i don't wanna be made a fool of either.

Dont say yes straight away, with WPP you must not be too polite and too blunt.

tell your boss that you'll cover up for the short term only showing your commitment.

If your boss refuses o sort out the problem and relies on you again and again tell he/she were you stand.

As per the contract its 25hours per week. Anything significantly over is exploitation.

Personally I would never undergo WPP for over 3months without getting paid.

Are you getting paid ?

catwoman2012

it's a placement through FAS, and the placement she advertised on FAS was 25 hours for 9 months

cagefan

Not in your contract so if she wants you to do she can pay you. Just ask her how much extra you'll get for extra hours and see what she says.

freeze4real

catwoman2012 wrote: »

it's a placement through FAS, and the placement she advertised on FAS was 25 hours for 9 months

Best thing IMO is do as I said, if she persisits tell her were you stand.

I'm not sure of the regulations regarding dismissal that's if she resorts to doing so, you can post in the legal forum here on boards.

catwoman2012

freeze4real wrote: »

Dont say yes straight away, with WPP you must not be too polite and too blunt.

tell your boss that you'll cover up for the short term only showing your commitment.

If your boss refuses o sort out the problem and relies on you again and again tell he/she were you stand.

As per the contract its 25hours per week. Anytging signiicantkly over is exploitation.

Personally I would never undergo WPP for over 3months without getting paid.

Are you getting paid ?

Nope you don't get paid for the placement, if it was simply a case that i wasnt learning enough or was slow at it then id be happy to do more hours to help myself, but i work my ass off when i'm there and am already doing stupid hours (late evenings) when you take someone on in a wpp you are not meant to do so to replace existing staff or to fill in a vacancy for another staff member, but that's what she did, a staff member left and she advertised for a wpp i didnt know this at the time but i do now, i am already doing the hours the PAID staff member previous to me was doing and now she wants me to do more because she'snot happy with other staff she has, she wants to cut their hours and increase mine, meaning she's saving money and basically using me! help!

catwoman2012

cagefan wrote: »

Not in your contract so if she wants you to do she can pay you. Just ask her how much extra you'll get for extra hours and see what she says.

i am currently getting jobseekers benefit so i cannot get paid for this position!

stargazer 68

Can you not contact Fas? Sounds a bit fishy to me - they should be able to tell you what she can and can't do.

freeze4real

Just quit, its simple as that thats over expoitation.

catwoman2012

Dovies wrote: »

Can you not contact Fas? Sounds a bit fishy to me - they should be able to tell you what she can and can't do.

i will if it comes to it, if i introduce FAS to these problems they'll probably terminate the placement i don't know?! i am enjoying it but don't want to be exploited either, i could be over reacting

catwoman2012

freeze4real wrote: »

Just quit, its simple as that thats over expoitation.

i don't want it to come to that, but i will if it does!

omerin

freeze4real wrote: »

Just quit, its simple as that thats over expoitation.

Don't do this.


Talk to Fas asap

stargazer 68

omerin wrote: »

Don't do this.


Talk to Fas asap

I have to agree. Thats what they are for - ring them now and explain the situation. Tell them you dont want them to terminate the placement but you just want them to be aware that you will be refusing to work the extra hours - see what they say.

catwoman2012

omerin wrote: »

Don't do this.


Talk to Fas asap

thanks Omerin, i'm back in work tomorrow, i'm gonna wait to see what she says to me, and then i'll tell her i will get onto FAS and discuss it with them first