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
Johanna Cunningham
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, start your free trial 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
-
If we reduce an employee’s hours, what happens to their accrued holiday?
Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 04 August 2020
-
If an employee has failed to attend a disciplinary hearing, can we proceed in their absence?
Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 04 August 2020
-
Is there a minimum period for which employees must be furloughed under the “flexible furlough scheme”?
Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 04 August 2020
-
Can we make our employees wear face masks when in the office?
Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 04 August 2020
-
If an employee has tested negative for Covid-19, can they return to work before the self-isolation period is up?
Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 06 July 2020
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.
Johanna Cunningham
Arthur Cox
The main content of this article was provided by Johanna Cunningham. Contact telephone number is Johanna Cunningham or email belfast@arthurcox.com
View all articles by Johanna Cunningham