Paid Work Trial

[Oh dear]

Hi,

My apologies for asking what may be a dumb question or overthinking this. I appreciate there are lots of postings over the internet about cross people never being paid from a trial but it's not clear what happens when the employer wants to pay you officially.

After having an interview with a smallish business, there is no job offer yet but I've been asked to do a day's work trial - I was expecting this to be unpaid as I do see both parties benefits in it. It's a strange situation as it is, the opportunity is a sole role and the job advert said training would happen as some of the systems I've not used before but from what's come across I would be put to work on entering the building on this work trial.

I've been asked for bank details in order to pay me for this trial. (provided with little other details, I don't know when payday is for example and I presume they will pay national hourly rate for the day, there doesn't seem to be a clause yet what happens in the event I turn any offer down, however, I'm rather concerned this means they will be treating me as an employee, putting me through payroll and this goes through HRMC? the ability to cause problems for simply no job offer but a day's trial somewhere if it came to making applications to other places who do extensive back ground checking.

They've not yet asked to see right to work (though I'll take it with me on the day) Would I also need a P45 from this work trial if being paid officially?

I've done a sit and watch day before with a small company who actually paid me, but they paid me cash really very unexpected end of the day with them for really all of half hours work in reality, so it didn't log anywhere and I didn't think to query that at that time but when they then made a job offer I felt quite compelled to accept after the embarrassment of being paid, which makes me somehow sceptical to accept a paid work trial, where bank details are being asked.

Thankful for any guidance.

 

[Newchodge]

No extensive back ground checking by a non-governmental employer will reveal a day's pay through HMRC. Even if it came to light, what would be the problem - day's trial, not for me or not a good fit.

My only concern is whether they are a genuine employer pr whether this is a scam to ge toyu bank detaisl.

 

[Graham Tyers]

I very much doubt they'll put you on the payroll and declare this to HMRC. It's possible of course but if I suggested such a thing to our payroll lady - well, I know the sort of answer I'd get!

We generally ask people in for half a day to get them to try the job out and see how they do but that'd be unpaid.

If you've visited their offices and they look and smell legit, fair enough. If this was an advert in Gumtree and you met a geezer for the interview in Starbucks, then I'm with @Newchodge and the alarm bells.

 

[pentel]

We always carry out day or half day trials with potential employees and pay them an appropriate rate through payroll.

Its not a major burden and I think that by doing so we are going some way to show that we are fair and respectful employer.

There is a new starter form where we gather all the info needed to deduct tax and report this to HMRC.

If this is an issue for anyone's payroll person then I think a word would be in order.

 

[Oh dear]

Thanks enormously all for the insights.

@pentel - I wasn't given a new starter form just told I'd be paid, which is certainly what made me want to post/query, thinking really how does it work to pay people to do a trial.
I guess I'm in the clear and the employer has really no intent to pay.
I just ended up concerned I didn't get to do any duties from the job advertisement to really know the true expectations of the role.

Sorry to ask but do you still pay people who then go on to turn down an offer following a trial?

 

[pentel]

Sorry to ask but do you still pay people who then go on to turn down an offer following a trial?

Yes. We pay anyone who comes for a work trial. The purpose of the trial is for both parties to see if there is a good fit. We can decided to either make an offer or not make an offer, the person who came on the trial can decide if they want to accept the offer or not!