As a start, I am an Apprentice at an IT Support company, it is a particularly small business with the office built onto the side of my boss' house. I have been here almost a year now and it seems that each week I am doing more and more things completely unrelated to my job as a technician.
I know that as an apprentice it's normal to get underpaid, pushed around and what not, but I think some of this is going way too far.
I am made to do things such as:
-Flattening boxes from his HOUSE to put in the blue bin, sometimes for over an hour straight.
-Going to Ridgeons to collect concrete for his garden.
-Tidying out the inside of his car
-Going to the shop for him so I can get his nicotine gum
The list goes on!
In addition, he is the owner of a few other small businesses. One being an Art Supply company, though I have been putting possibly days worth of work in on this company, just filling in products on the website as well as fulfilling orders for customers.
Nowhere in my contract does it say that I would have to act as his personal assistant, which I feel I am at this point, also it does not say that I will have and involvement with any of his other companies.
I would argue against doing these things, but he is the sort of guy to try and snake out of any trouble, and he hates not getting his own way.
well, the main reason of being an apprentice is to learn about the job your doing. which you are clearly not if hes sending you on errands like that. he is technically allowed to do it in a legal sense, with your permission of course. its normal for apprentices to be sent to do little jobs but hes definitely taking advantage by making you help him with his domestic needs. If i were you I'd go talk to him and just be polite and say that when you took the job you thought you'd be learning about the job, not helping him around the house and if its not too much trouble it would be good if you could do stuff more related to the IT company
He may not be allowed to get more out of you than what is contacted. But you have no alternative. If you find him very intolerable, best thing is to change job whenever you can.
IS he paying you for these other tasks
If he is, then it is probably because there is no other work to do
I wouldn't complain unless you feel you are not doing any computer related work
we all have to empty bins and tidy up at times, no matter what our job is
As long as you are getting a days pay then he can ask you to do what he wants. He is paying for your time.
Perhaps its time you looked for a proper job with a more professional company.
UK
well i guess that he isn't allowed to make you do those things.
