Jobbridge being used to cover maternity leave

Boofle

I have been offered an internship with a company and I went in to the offices this week in order to fill out paperwork and meet some of the employees etc. They emphasised that they would like me to start as soon as possible as the lady who will be 'showing me the ropes' would be going away for 'a few weeks' in mid May. I thought that sounded fair enough and I am eager to start the internship as soon as possible.

However, when I turned up to the offices I was introduced to the lady who would be 'going away for a few weeks' and realised she was about 8 months pregnant . . . . . So clearly instead of advertising a maternity contract this company have just decided to take on an 'intern'. For free. Who will be working with no 'mentor' once the pregnant lady goes on her maternity leave. Is this considered abuse of the jobbridge program? Surely this is taking jobs out of the economy? This position would have been filled by a paid employee before the internship scheme came along as the company wouldn't function without this role!

I don't mind really as I want the experience in this company and it suits me to take on the internship; but to be frank the scheme wasn't introduced as a means for employers to cover maternity leave with a free worker.

Delancey

Yet another example of the abuse of the scheme , really little more can be said , quite laughable when you remember the promises that real jobs that paid would not be displaced :mad:

omerin

OP I'd give it a couple of weeks to see if this turns out to be the case, if so, than it should be reported. It's not doing you any favours to be used as cover with no mentor.

Boofle

Yes it is quite laughable. I honestly had to try and hide my shock when I realised the lady was so heavily pregnant and the company decided to get a free employee (ie:me!)to cover her maternity leave - I had heard about abuses of this scheme but didn't think it would be so blatant!

The €50 extra a week will come in handy towards my rent so I guess it's ok for the moment and I am still actively seeking paid employment.

But to put it bluntly. . . . . Jobbridge sucks!!

ABajaninCork

Can you not report this?

Name and Shame them for gods sake!

They should be paying you a real wage instead of leeching off the taxpayer

Boofle

Deleted User wrote: »

Name and Shame them for gods sake!

They should be paying you a real wage instead of leeching off the taxpayer

I would love to name and shame them; but the job situation is just so bad that people are competing for these unpaid internships; I applied for lots of them and most of them didn't even respond! I had to go through an intense interview with three interviewers for the one I was eventually offered! Maybe its crazy to do one of these unpaid interships but I need to fill the gaping hole on my CV which is as a result of being made redundant!

Its actually rather nauseating that some employers are getting highly educated and experienced people to work for them for free!!

eamonnq

Hopefully you will get a job in the next few weeks, and then they will be left with no cover!!

Boofle

eamonnq wrote: »

Hopefully you will get a job in the next few weeks, and then they will be left with no cover!!

hopefully!