"Trials Shifts"

Drodan

Hey all

Just wondering have many others encounter this seemingly new enough trend to me anyway where you would apply for a job in a hotel, bar or restaurant (where ever) and you'd be called in for a trial shift, bypassing any interview stage?

I've recently enough had two experiences of this (so have a few friends), neither of which ended too well tbh. The first one I applied for a bar staff position and when I got there was told I was a waiter for the shift, which can't really complain about tbh so I just got on with it. The second one I got called in during a shift which appeared to have the sole purpose of using me as free labour as they were short staffed (as well as being treated appallingly by the owner and manager) for the night and then never to be heard from again.

I'm not looking for any "oh is this legal?" thoughts or anything, just wondering is that just the way the industry is now? Do all employers in that field go by the same way of "here's a trial shift, let's use you for the night and then more than likely never contact you again"?

Vego

Most get you to come in on a busy day to see if you can sink or swim how your able to deal with the pressure of most days in hotels etc. If you do well then you more than likely get the job if not then you dont

Send a dated letter to the hr or owner about your pay and also in the letter your going to contact nera if its not done in a prompt fashion

Drodan

I'm not too up to date myself with these things but what's nera?

I understand the need to see how people get on doing the job, there's no point hiring someone off their word alone and then learning they can't do a thing. Although the idea of training people in seems to be completely gone nowadays.

The night I worked was according to people who had worked there for a very long time the busiest they had in about 3-4 months, with two private parties booked, and a girl who had started a couple weeks earlier had never seen it so busy. I'm assuming that having someone do a trial during what you know is the busiest night you had and are going to have in months isn't the best idea, considering they looked understaffed even with me there (not saying I was at all amazing btw)

Vego

the main thing they would be looking for is if you can adapt to the situation how much you know already ..A bar man if you have indeed done this should be able to have doubled as a basic waiter ie taking drinks orders etc most hotels would combine the bar staff under a "gss" umbrella (general services staff)

..the training comes after a while

I worked in a chain hotel and it took 4 weeks until I got to do induction as they were quite busy but the training I received was top notch year round.

I`d just write/email for the wages and forget about them

Mrs OBumble

Drodan wrote: »

I understand the need to see how people get on doing the job, there's no point hiring someone off their word alone and then learning they can't do a thing.

Ahh, sorry, but that's rubbish. You're on probation in a job for the first year, and within the first three months can be got rid of at a moment's notice if they decide you're not up to the job.

Even trial shifts should be paid.

Esoteric_

I did a trial shift for my last job (restaurant), but was interviewed, too. They gave me a quick, informal interview, then offered me a 4 hour trial. They specified in the interview that the trial was unpaid, but that if you didn't get the job, they would pay you for the 4 hours. So if you got the job, it was unpaid, if you didn't get the job, it was paid.

I was put in on the busiest day of the week, for the lunch rush. It seemed to be a 'sink or swim' situation, and I did very well and was called down to the office and asked to start officially a few days later.

That said, there seems to be a worrying trend in places calling people in for trial days, not paying them, and just getting free labour. So many small cafes and the likes have been doing it. One cafe in Dun Laoghaire (I won't name it obviously) called my ex in for a trial. He did the trial, was told he did extremely well and that they'd call him. He heard nothing, so tried to call for some feedback to see what he could improve upon next time he had a trial. No answer on the phones, so he went in, and lo and behold, another guy was on trial. Few weeks later, I was walking by and popped in for coffee and yet another person was on trial. My ex was never paid for this, despite doing an 8 hour shift.

My current job, I was given a 4 hour trial immediately after the interview, literally myself and the company director walked over to the workplace after the interview and I got to work. Was offered the job straight after, and paid for the trial also.

In some places (like my last job and my current job), it really is a case of seeing whether or not you can handle the job, but there seems to be a lot of cases of people just looking for free labour.

Trials should always be paid. I will never do an 'unpaid' trial, because I'd immediately think that they're going to be a bad employer. If they're not going to pay you for a few hours of work, how stingy and mean would they be as an employer?

Drodan

Well from my experience of those couple of hours, and what a current employee told me, I would not have wanted to work in this particular pub. Within the first five minutes of meeting the general manager (a guy full of his own self importance) he started laying into me calling my appearance a disgrace (shirt, slacks and shoes which is what he told me to wear over the phone, was told to take the tie off) asking if I borrowed the shirt from my father and I quote "you look like you've put in no effort to come in here and make me money". Took every ounce of strength not to tell him to f*** off and walk out there and then. And a lot more BS from the head barman too.

The most annoying part was being told I'd be called during the week, and of course not hearing a word. I got a txt at 5:40pm Saturday afternoon saying to be for 6pm, which I only saw at around 6:45pm. Didn't know the number but assumed who it was and said I couldn't, that I had plans. The following replying was him giving out saying how I said I was playing football the previous day and said I'd be in on the Saturday. Once I told him he'd been txting the wrong number (obviously another lad on trial), that I hadn't heard anything all week despite what I was told and I'd be in to collect my wages for the shift the previous week in the next couple days shock and horror he stopped replying.

the_syco

Drodan wrote: »

The second one I got called in during a shift which appeared to have the sole purpose of using me as free labour as they were short staffed (as well as being treated appallingly by the owner and manager) for the night and then never to be heard from again.

This sort of sh|t has been happening for years; it's nothing new.

10 or 20 minutes of basic training goes a long way, but from my understanding, you don't even get this for these "trials". For my first job at 16, I was shown the layout of the restaurants kitchen, where I was to work, where stuff was, and that was it. 15 minutes tops. I've found that if they will give you basic training, the entire setup is usually not run by cowboys.

LowKeyReturn

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Ahh, sorry, but that's rubbish. You're on probation in a job for the first year, and within the first three months can be got rid of at a moment's notice if they decide you're not up to the job.

Even trial shifts should be paid.

I disagree if they are part of a well thought out recruitment process. It's easy to over look someone who shines 'on the floor' vs someone that 'does a great interview'. If they are just free labour, that's a different story. If any of these trials start without basic H&S induction the first thing many would do is bend down to pick something up and start shouting 'Ahhh me back'.

To some of the other posters - if you think someone needs to be told to Foxtrot Oscar on the first day, they probably do. I strongly encourage you to, followed up with 'expect a visit form the labour inspector, fire officer and HSE'. You'll be amazed what it does for your general mood.

Vego

I wouldn't. Threat the hse etc that's a bit silly as other people are employed in the establishment as I said forget about them write a letter. For your money say you. Contacted nera about your rights etc and move on from it