The recession has been bad for everyone especially those looking for new work. Good jobs are scarce as employers are trying to get more out of their existing workers instead of spending time and money training new staff. Only essential and skilled work opportunities are left on offer. Most prospective employers of all sizes have a typical trial period of 14 - 90 days before a contract is offered and this is in keeping with common sense to weed out the improperly skilled and the restless.

Then there is the 'trial shift' where employers no longer depend on the accurateness of your CV or job application and want to see a sample of how you work in practice. This is normally only a few hours long and the employer normally takes into account that you're a tad nervous. You are typically not paid for those few hours and told about this in advance; if they are very official they might ask you to sign a note to that effect, so the employer is covered.

As with all practices, there will be those who will try to take advantage, sometimes incredibly so. It can begin with a trial being unduly long with no true undertanding of a wage, to businesses scheduling trail shifts for many applicants over several days or weeks without paying a cent to anyone - and then often not hiring anyone ( this often happens during holiday periods so the business never has to hire a permanent worker after business returns to normal ). These nefarious practices are often tried with students and foreigners who don't know their rights or are afraid to draw attention to themselves, but the brazen ones will try this tactic with anyone.

We at Brighton Rag have received feedback from some of our members ( if you're not one - become one! ) who have had similar trouble as well as with not being guaranteed how many hours they'll work from week-to-week. This happens often when you repond to a sign in a window or on a board that offers 'part-time' work and once you're hired, your employer isn't clear about when they'll need you ( often in a restaurant/cafe: "Oh, we'll call you if we're busy..."; "You can go home early: there are no customers..." ).

So my colleague and I checked it out and went job hunting! While we 're not going to name names, we found a lot of taking advantage of unsuspecting job applicants going on - almost all in the small business market ( independent, not chain stores ) and very frequently in the food service business. Julia worked for two weeks as a waitress in a local brasserie and never had guaranteed hours and was often sent home when business was slow so she could never plan her budget - and her base pay was only £3.35 per hour! I worked at a bar where they paid more on certain shifts than others and found this out only after I was paid. A Turkish owned bar/cafe in the North Laines and employed me for three days in the kitchen@ eight hours a day, gave me a free meal each day and only gave me £20 which I complined should be more, at which point he said it was his word against mine. A memorable 'trial shift' was one in a pub kitchen where my trial shift was 9 1/2 hours straight of hard work in a hot kitchen with dull knives - and I was even asked to stay later - and still received no pay! Only after many un-returned phone calls over three days, I recorded yet another message to him informing him of the fact, which produced an instant angry response and £40 on the fifth day - or £4.20 per hour I worked. There were other examples, but you get the idea.

We made a note of all incidents and businesses involved, but here's how can prevent being caught in any job-seeking traps:

1] Get everything in writing! If you are to work a trial shift for a business then write down:

• The shift times - start and finish.
• Any required clothing or equipment
• Paid or un-paid and how much.
• Your name printed, signed and dated
• The supervisor's name and position printed, signed and dated.

All of this will protect both you and you prospective employer from any misunderstanding.

2] When you're hired make sure you're clear about the minimum and maximum hours both you and your employer require and again: put it in writing.

3] Make sure that the same is clear about your wages. Legally you must pay taxes through your employer or through yourself if you are a sole trader or other type of business. If you are these then you must provide a weekly or monthly invoice for services rendered and proof of status. If you have any other tax-exemptions, it is your responsiblity to submit proof of these to your employer. If you both have an informal cash payment arrangement, your rights can be severely limited.

We will continue to respond to any kind of feedback by our members and where necessary keep all contacts anonymous as always, but where it becomes necessary for further advice from the authorities, here a some useful numbers to phone for more information and complaints. I assure you all complaints are looked into and when you make a complaint - anonymous or not - write down the reference or complaint number so you can check on its progress if you want.

Brighton and Hove Citizens Advice Bureau
1 Tisbury Road
Hove
East Sussex
BN3 4AH
0845 1203710
http://www.brightonhovecab.org.uk/

Brighton & Hove City Council
Kings House
Grand Avenue
Hove BN3 2LS
(01273) 290000
(01273) 294429
www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/

Health and Safety Enquiries/Complaints
(0845) 345 0055

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