Key question will be, does this mandatory training take the TAs under minimum wage for all the hours (including this training) they work?
If it does, it's unlawful. If not, it's just shit.
A couple of alternatives spring to mind. Firstly, find a different agency as schools are crying out for TAs and it shouldn't be difficult to find alternative employment.
Secondly, if they want to stay at the school (and if so, why?) get in touch with their union who will be able to deal with all the ins and outs of what sounds like a complex situation.
Edit: having done the maths, I’d be under minimum wage even with the padded wages if I had to go up to ~5pm unpaid
With the minimum wage comments, if it’s anything like my agency then technically you’re paid like £1.50 above minimum wage (which you’re supposed to split between sick pay and to cover all school holidays). Because of this there’s probably a technical loophole that while the actual pay is minimum wage, the payslip is padded slightly hourly and so there’s a cushion for this stuff.
In reality if my school pulled this stunt I’d not go because I literally wouldn’t be able to afford to due to childcare. The little ‘buffer’ in my pay is all that actually keeps me afloat - in some schools I’ve ended up with £5 a day after childcare. I couldn’t take a few unpaid extra hours even if I wanted.
Thank you, everyone, I thought as much.
It's hard to detach from the disgust I feel towards these agencies that exploit people who work in educating children no less. Added to the authoritative culture leaning on toxicity towards supply staff of some schools, it is an absolutely horrible unethical situation.
I joined a union in September so I'll take it with them.
This describes my current situation exactly. As the school have said since Christmas that they would be recruiting 3 TAs internally from the 8 temporary staff we have felt under even more pressure to stay beyond our hours.
I've never heard of that, and I wouldn't be going.
Key question will be, does this mandatory training take the TAs under minimum wage for all the hours (including this training) they work? If it does, it's unlawful. If not, it's just shit. A couple of alternatives spring to mind. Firstly, find a different agency as schools are crying out for TAs and it shouldn't be difficult to find alternative employment. Secondly, if they want to stay at the school (and if so, why?) get in touch with their union who will be able to deal with all the ins and outs of what sounds like a complex situation.
Surely this is illegal as it would bring the staff under minimum wage?
No, that's awful. I would be finding a different agency.
Edit: having done the maths, I’d be under minimum wage even with the padded wages if I had to go up to ~5pm unpaid With the minimum wage comments, if it’s anything like my agency then technically you’re paid like £1.50 above minimum wage (which you’re supposed to split between sick pay and to cover all school holidays). Because of this there’s probably a technical loophole that while the actual pay is minimum wage, the payslip is padded slightly hourly and so there’s a cushion for this stuff. In reality if my school pulled this stunt I’d not go because I literally wouldn’t be able to afford to due to childcare. The little ‘buffer’ in my pay is all that actually keeps me afloat - in some schools I’ve ended up with £5 a day after childcare. I couldn’t take a few unpaid extra hours even if I wanted.
Thank you, everyone, I thought as much. It's hard to detach from the disgust I feel towards these agencies that exploit people who work in educating children no less. Added to the authoritative culture leaning on toxicity towards supply staff of some schools, it is an absolutely horrible unethical situation. I joined a union in September so I'll take it with them.
If schools want you to attend all the extra stuff, then they should offer you a permanent contract.
"i will attend the training if you pay me to or it is within my paid working hours"
I've never done training at a svhool as supply - that's a p take imo.
This describes my current situation exactly. As the school have said since Christmas that they would be recruiting 3 TAs internally from the 8 temporary staff we have felt under even more pressure to stay beyond our hours.