Companies must pay potential staff for trial shifts
MOST people would agree that everyone deserves to be paid for the work they do – but it turns out this doesn’t always happen.
Unpaid trial shifts have become all too common, with even big companies asking potential employees to work a shift or multiple shifts for zero pay – and with no guarantee of a job at the end of it.
My SNP colleague Stewart McDonald MP is leading the way in tackling this exploitative practice, by introducing a Private Members Bill at Westminster.
His bill seeks to end unpaid trial shifts. Essentially, if a trial period is to be offered then the employer must pay up for the work that is done.
I know people who have had to work long and tiring shifts to prove that they are capable of doing a job, while the employer effectively gets a free worker.
This is totally unfair. People trying to secure work deserve to be treated with fairness, dignity and respect, and have the full protection of the law.
Stewart’s bill has already received support from the Scottish Trades Union Congress – let’s hope MPs from across the different parties will also back it, and stand with SNP MPs to end this unfair and exploitative practice for good.