18th February 2012, 06:25 PM
From Direct Gov:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAnd.../DG_183343
"Pay
Some placements are paid, others are not. Whether you?re entitled to payment will depend on what you actually do for the organisation - not what your role is called. If you are performing as a worker, you must be paid at least the National Minimum Wage. The exception to this is if your placement is part of a further or higher education course and lasts up to one year.
If you are taken on as a volunteer, you?re unlikely to receive payment.
Even if your placement is unpaid, it?s worth asking whether the organisation could cover your expenses, such as daily travel costs."
Unfortunately there are so many graduates out there who are willing to be exploited because they hope it will give them an advantage later on.
On an anecdotal note, a friend of mine with several years commercial digging experience recently sent a speculative application to an established archaeology unit only to be told there were no positions available but they would be willing to offer him unpaid voluntary work.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAnd.../DG_183343
"Pay
Some placements are paid, others are not. Whether you?re entitled to payment will depend on what you actually do for the organisation - not what your role is called. If you are performing as a worker, you must be paid at least the National Minimum Wage. The exception to this is if your placement is part of a further or higher education course and lasts up to one year.
If you are taken on as a volunteer, you?re unlikely to receive payment.
Even if your placement is unpaid, it?s worth asking whether the organisation could cover your expenses, such as daily travel costs."
Unfortunately there are so many graduates out there who are willing to be exploited because they hope it will give them an advantage later on.
On an anecdotal note, a friend of mine with several years commercial digging experience recently sent a speculative application to an established archaeology unit only to be told there were no positions available but they would be willing to offer him unpaid voluntary work.