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Fairness @ work
Trial work and work experience
The difference between trial work and work experience
Every worker must be paid the correct wages for the work they do.
There is generally no such thing as an unpaid trial or probation period.
Most job offers are made after an interview and you may be asked to undertake a trial or probationary period. The trial or probationary period gives the employer the chance to assess the performance of a new employee and also allows the employee to work out if they want to continue on an ongoing basis. Your employer must tell you how long the trial period will be prior to starting work, (up to a maximum of three months) and you should be paid for all hours worked.
Employers can be prosecuted, face penalties and can be required to make up the correct wages plus interest in relation to each occasion an employee is not paid or is underpaid.
Trial/probationary work is often confused with work experience, which is coordinated and run through an educational institution.
School or government-sponsored work experience programs are valuable. Be wary of other offers of unpaid work experience, even if they seem like a good idea. Unless the work experience is through a structured and approved training programme, or organised through your school, TAFE or university, you should be paid for any work you do.
See the Trial work and probationary work information sheet (PDF 82KB) for more details.
Last updated: 21 October, 2010
Telephone 1300 365 255
Employers and employees within South Australia can contact their local SafeWork SA office, or the Help Centre, for the cost of a local call. This service is available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8.30am to 5.30pm, and on Wednesdays from 8.30am to 4.15pm (excluding public holidays)
Email: help@safework.sa.gov.au
