Some industries such as media, marketing and broadcasting have historically offered voluntary work placements (i.e. unpaid work placements) opportunities to students. However, more organisations from different sectors, whilst keen to offer paid work experience, are offering unpaid work placements as a means of cutting costs during economic uncertainty.

But how can you be certain that you are not being exploited? The answers to the following frequently asked questions may help.

Should I do a voluntary work placement?

This is a question only you can answer. It is for you to decide if the positive aspects of the placement outweigh the negatives, then you can make an informed decision. Certainly any form of relevant work experience will enhance your employability; however this does not necessarily mean you should simply take up any opportunity that comes your way.

As a rule of thumb, you might want to use the following guideline: three to four weeks of unpaid work on a work placement is fine, but beyond this period, negotiate some form of pay or bursary from the organisation. If you decide to follow this guideline, then ensure you negotiate this at the start.

If you see a voluntary work placement opportunity that interests you, ensure:

1. that the organisation will cover your travel expenses;
2. you are fully aware of the length of the placement and the duties involved;
3. you avoid any work placement schemes or organisations that request that you pay a fee upfront.#

If there comes a point when the opportunity no longer feels balanced (i.e. in terms of what you are gaining from the experience versus working for no pay), reconsider why you should continue the placement.

What is the difference between voluntary work and a voluntary work placement?

It is easy to confuse the two. But typically voluntary work is any form of unpaid work undertaken for charitable or voluntary sector-based organisations (not-for-profit type organisations). This should not be mistaken for voluntary work placements that are typically traditional work placements offered by organisations in the private and/or public sectors but are unpaid.

What does the law say about voluntary work placements?

Minimum wage legislation dictates that anyone who is doing active work for an organisation as if they were an employee, should be paid the minimum wage. The only exemptions to this ruling are not-for-profit organisations offering voluntary work and also any work placement that forms part of your academic studies (e.g. a year in industry placement). In all other cases, the only circumstance when you should not be paid is when/if you are simply work shadowing for the duration of the placement. However voluntary/unpaid work placements will still exist. As mentioned before, it is up to you to decide whether the benefits gained by undertaking a voluntary work placement outweigh the negatives.

I am still uncertain what to do. Can you help?

If you are still unsure or have concerns, you can book an appointment to see a member of the Work-related Learning Team. Please email sdzhelpdesk@le.ac.uk to book an appointment.