urgent question- please help!!

I am posting this because I don't know where else to turn.

I have started working at a new job and was very excited to land it. I have been working my butt off.

The only problem is that HR has been out sick for the first two weeks that I was working.

My boss requested that I come in and work anyway for free.

I know this is illegal, and have been holding my breath until the two weeks were up.

I have just found out it will be another month until I can be hired officially.

Let's say at the end of that month, my boss wants to turn me away with no pay, there is nobody that I can turn to. He could hire me--- he SHOULD hire me-- but he said that he doesn't want to deal with HR, and he'll hire me after I prove I can do the job in a month-- for free.

This is really affecting me. I feel terrible and stressed out. It's like, the stress of the first month of a job, plus the stress of pretending I don't mind NOT BEING PAID, and deliberately NOT BEING PAID, though I applied through an official HR process and everything. Even in my free time, I feel owned, like a slave.

When I brought these issues up, my boss (?) emailed me the resumes, transcripts, and recommendation letters of the people he hired me over (!!!!). Isn't this against the law???????????????????????????????????????????

This job doesn't pay that much, but it has good a benefits package (which I will receive... at an indefinite time). I am dying to get hired officially and leverage the job to find a new job, since it will be easier to get a new job after proving employment.

By the way, this is for a very reputable institution that if you heard the name of it, would be really surprising. I don't want to say the name of it, but I feel like I knew it was too good to be true.

Meanwhile, my job is still being advertised online and my colleagues all know that I am working for free as a volunteer!

What would I do? Should I walk away?

Yes, this is illegal, yes, I know I am being asked to lie. It's so so so so upsetting to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By the way, I am especially sensitive to this because the last three jobs I have had, my actual salary has ended up being lower than the negotiated salary, and/or, I have been promised (but did not receive) a full job after an unpaid "probationary" period, which I later found out would not happen.

Yea, unfortunately, I know that in this economy, that's normal, sucks.

Anyway this is really long winded but does anyone know what I can do? Should I walk away from this one?

Thank you for your help!!!

Any reply would be really appreciated!!!!! Really truly!

You should not be working for free. Do you mind saying what country you are in? It's a good company but only has one HR person? Really?? There is something very wrong there and for a manager to request that you work one month for free is outrageous. Regardless of how good a company's reputation is, I do not recommend that you do it. Frankly, they should be reported to the authorities. The only exception is if you are given the title of "intern." Is this an intern position? May I ask what the job title is?

It is the united states. He is not a manager exactly, but a respected leader in a public institution. It's not that the institution is breaking the law, but he is pressuring me to work for free (I assume with the implied threat that I can be replaced). HR has warned me not to do it as a basic liability but the bottom line is, I won't be "hired" without doing it, and will probably forfeit the salary I have been promised so far if I stop going.

I also don't get why there is only one HR person who can hire me. I have been told that this person was assigned to my case and she is busy. I don't know my rights well, so I suppose i could push through HR in another building and get myself hired, but my "boss" would have to provide an offer letter, I assume. I am scared to make waves, as I was told by HR that multiple candidates for other jobs in the past were forced to go through the same experience by this boss.

I agree that the title of "intern" would make more sense, but i went through a 1 month interview process for the job, including background and reference checks and multiple interviews. I most definitely did not think I was applying for an internship, as the title and salary were listed in the job posting I applied for!!!!!!!

You are being "pressured" to work for free? And, the manager wants you to work for one month for free? Slavery ended years ago! Sorry, this does not sound legal. I don't care how good the organization's reputation is. You should be paid. Keep searching for another job. You might want to call your local attorney general's office and / or EEOC office and ask if they are aware of this and for their view of this kind of employment practice.

You have every right to be indignant. Don't GIVE them another hour of your time - do not give them the chance to leave you holding the bag - then blow the whistle on the company. This jerk that has been giving you the runaround and has tried to haze you represents that company, so they're on the hook.

I just want to say thank you, unhappy guy, for all of your responses!! I really appreciate it.

I have to say-- to pick up on one of your points before--slavery definitely did not end years ago, because today, we have interns!!!!

I just have to add also-- and I know that my case doesn't compare-- but I can't help but think that ours is a really miserable, fearful era when it comes to work. If all the really Dickensian work practices were still around today I am sad to say that our generation would not be the one to establish health standards, abolish child slavery, or create a minimum wage. Everyone is so frightened of our precious economy that we would just go on facebook and wait for it to be over.

Thank you ADDithers! I can handle going back, I really can. However, I just need tomorrow off-- it's the application deadline for a different job/program that, apparently, I really need to apply to after all. I am incredibly nervous now that it is almost 4 am here-- what to do what to do!!!! I feel that though it is not a real job, quitting (or even taking a day off, in this situation) would be like jumping into an abyss.

Arghhh thanks again for the replies on this can't explain how scary this feels right now.

I have nothing helpful at all too add as have never been in anything remotely to this position, but i just wanted to say I am sorry you are so scared, that I read all you wrote & I hope all gets sorted soon.
I do not think you should work for free & I would consider lawyers and the like if you did not get hired if after the month, or were not paid retrospectively.
I really hope you took the time off - I can imagine it is scary, but it sounds like the right thing to do for you, no matter how this job has made you feel you deserve and need to put yourself first and it sounds like taking the time off is doing just that.
good luck and i hope all turns out well for you.

Quitting isn't an abyss. I can see that it would feel like one if you were truly bonded to the job like in a routine & getting paid for it. I remember years ago I was working at dead end job & I took a dare - a plunge into something else and was scared to death because i was leaving something that was at least secure. It all worked out in the end - was glad I took the plunge! Well, good luck to you!

Wow! ... Just Wow! ... I mean really?

Honey, don't walk ... RUN as far and as fast from this situation as you can ...

DON'T LOOK BACK ... !!!

You haven't been officially hired. You aren't receiving pay for the hours you've worked. The position is still being advertised. You don't have a job! I say stop working for free, you are being taken advantage of.

Reminds me of my working for no pay..... Never work for no pay. Haha

Stop working there immediately. This guy knows he can intimidate you and use you. Don't sign up for that. You really don't want a job with any institution that allows this kind of thing to go on.

Yes.

That's my answer.

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark, or this job.

I don't know how illegal it is but I would wonder how your boss gets away without going through HR and how HR can be "on vacation" for a month without anyone doing their job (how are the other people getting paid???) and I would not like that boss to be my boss as there does not seem to be anything positive to recommend him. I would move away, look elsewhere where they do things more aboveboard.

That really helps. It is good to know that this is not usual.
I wrote to the office saying I could not go in until the hiring date was set. No reply (!!!!!)

I spent the day doing apps & it was just in time, because I knew it was the deadline for many other job apps-- I don't think I could have handled going in to "work" and just seeing those pass by.

Nothing like a clean break and at least it didn't go on long.

Many thanks again to those on here

Document, document, document everything, and report it to HR and the Labor boards, there is or should be a free legal service in your area that can tell you if you
bring them the paper work of your 'hiring on' whether you have a leg to
stand on, or if you are volunteer/employed at discretion of company. What your
boss (respected/ manager) is doing is illegal.
Use it to your advantage, but do it with tact and grace, your
HR will appreciate your grace and savvy and keep you on if you handle it
right. If you over react, the company may not be so forgiving.
YOU must have someone above you besides HR.
Check "Referenceusa.com" and Hoover.com and "Inside Prospects" to find out
who owns the company, how to reach them and where they are.
Tell the gate keeper (secretary) that it is a personal matter and when you
get the PRES on the phone tell them quickly what the issue is, your
documentation and that you will be "hard mailing him" (letter in mail)
in regards this issue. Tell him you wish everything to be happy with you and
company but you will not be party to questionable << practices.
CC (copy care of) this letter to the Labor board ( but don't send it)
until you get unsatisfactory response to your call with the Pres of company.

Much love and good luck.

Sandee.

"It is the united states. He is not a manager exactly, but a respected leader in a public institution. It's not that the institution is breaking the law, but he is pressuring me to work for free (I assume with the implied threat that I can be replaced). HR has warned me not to do it as a basic liability but the bottom line is, I won't be "hired" without doing it, and will probably forfeit the salary I have been promised so far if I stop going."

This is unbelievable! I can't believe that a U.S. Public Institution would ever be allowed to do what this manager is doing! And yes, the institution is breaking the law if they allow this to happen. Absolutely report this to the Attorney General's Office. Provide documentation and they will take care of the rest.

And, so good to hear that you decided to walk away a pursue work elsewhere.