Can an employer use an unpaid work trial as part of a recruitment process?
Posted in : First Tuesday Q&A NI on 6 August 2019
Arthur Cox
Arthur Cox
Work trials can be a useful tool for employers and can form a legitimate part of a recruitment exercise by enabling employers to observe how a candidate performs in a real work setting before formally choosing to hire the candidate.
If the candidate performs to a high standard during the trial period, it will show the employer that they will be capable of carrying out the job role. Trial periods are often unpaid and therefore are sometimes frowned upon by trade unions and the general public.
Unfortunately, there is no specific legislation which governs this area of employment law. However, a good starting point is the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 (“NMW Act"). Under the NMW Act, any person
Already a subscriber?
Click here to login and access the full article.
Log in now to read the full articleDon't miss out, register today!
Are you fully aware of the benefits of Legal-Island's Employment Law Update Service? We help hundreds of people like you understand how the latest changes in employment law impact on your business.
Help understand the ramifications of each important case from NI, GB and Europe
24/7 access to all the content in the Legal Island Vault for research case law and HR issues
Ensure your organisation’s policies and procedures are fully compliant with NI law
Receive free preliminary advice on workplace issues from the employment team at Worthingtons Solicitors
More from the First Tuesday Q&A
-
Do employers have to grant a request by an employee to work part-time?
Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 03 October 2024
-
What is the legal position when a contract of employment states the incorrect salary?
Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 03 October 2024
-
If an employee issues a verbal resignation, but their contract requires a written resignation, will their resignation still be effective in law?
Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 03 October 2024
-
What is the law in relation to the recruitment of individuals with a criminal record?
Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 05 September 2024
-
What types of break between contracts would not constitute a break in continuous employment?
Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 05 September 2024
Disclaimer:
The information in this article is provided as part of Legal-Island's Employment Law Hub. We regret we are not able to respond to requests for specific legal or HR queries and recommend that professional advice is obtained before relying on information supplied anywhere within this article.
Arthur Cox
Arthur Cox
The main content of this article was provided by Arthur Cox. Contact telephone number is 028 9023 0007 or email belfast@arthurcox.com
View all articles by Arthur Cox