Trial work
During a work trial, an applicant is invited by the company to work for a day or a few hours on a trial basis and perform a few selected tasks. There is no payment for trial work. The main reason for trial work is that applicants and employers want to get to know each other better. This makes it clear whether the candidate is a good fit for the company. Furthermore, it becomes clear to what extent the applicant fits the advertised position.
Trial work: What you need to bear in mind
Working on a trial basis is now an integral part of the application process at some companies and determines how well the candidate and team fit together.
Trial work must be distinguished from the probationary period. This is because no employment contract is concluded during a trial period. However, probationary work is usually documented in writing.
The advantage of the whole thing is that this is an opportunity to get to know the applicant’s working methods and personality. The company is free to decide how many candidates it invites for a work trial. It is often the last step in the application process. However, this should not be more than a week. A few hours in the morning or afternoon is common.
When working on a trial basis, applicants do not have to look for tasks on their own. Instead, they should be taken by the hand and introduced to certain content and tasks by an employee. After all, the point of such days is for the candidates to run along and gain an insight into the work and the team.
Is there a payment?
There is no salary for probationary work. However, it is not uncommon for a voluntary expense allowance to be granted. This includes, for example, travel expenses or the cost of meals.
The trial work agreement
A written agreement is part of working on a trial basis. Nowadays, this is usually stored digitally and centrally. This means it can be found again at any later point in time. If the candidate is later hired, the first important information about them can be found here.
The following information should be included in this agreement:
- First & last name of the candidate
- Location of the trial work
- Period of trial work
- Note: Applicant is not obliged to perform work
- Contact person for the candidate
- Note: Both parties can terminate trial work at any time
- Note: No wage payment
Working on a trial basis: Register with the employment office?
The following applies here: As long as there is no employment contract, working on a trial basis does not have to be registered with the tax office or social insurance institutions. This obligation only applies to employees.
If the applicant is registered with the employment agency or job center and receives state benefits, the employer requires permission for the trial work. This must be applied for from the relevant institution before the trial work begins.
