Should I get paid

[Ashley Williams]

Hi guys

I've been asked to go on a 17th edition regs course by my employer now obviously this is advantageous to myself. But it's out of my normal working hours. The course is 10 weeks long every Wednesday night for 3 hours. They expect me to work my normal day the go to the course which is 1 1/2 hours drive from work then around 45 minutes home. Should I get paid for my time at the course aka the 3 hours and should I get paid my mileage?? The course is available at nearer locations during the working day. But they are saying well this is the training provider we use. Any advice is appreciated if it was 2 or 3 weeks it wouldn't be as bad but it's a lot of my time and fuel for something that is extremely adventitious to them as well.

ash

 

[Marvo]

If the company is paying for the course I'd grab it with both hands and wouldn't worry about a few late nights if I were you. If the travel costs were considerable maybe broach the subject of getting some assistance, I'd ask really nicely if they could help out with half the petrol cost or something similar.

This is just my opinion but it wouldn't surprise me if there was something in the employment law that governs what they would have to pay you.

 

[ferg]

If it's any consolation ....
I came back to sparking after working for a few years in social services.
We were getting paid 2/10 of sod all and were expected to complete an SVQ L3 in our own time.
Without the L3 we were told we would be unable to continue working.
We were allocated 1 Hour per week paid time to study.
As you can imagine working for the local council we never saw the hours study time.

If they are paying for the college and it helps you in the long term grab it with both hands

 

[Dalf]

Have you guys calculated it at all? If it's nearly 5 hours of his time for 10 weeks it works out at 50 hours. Surely his hourly rate by the 50 hours is more that what the course would cost.

Could you not do it over 2/3 days and use holidays? That way your being paid albeit losing 3 days holiday.

 

[Octopus]

If your employer is offering to add to your "transportable" skill set and qualifications you should be biting their arm off. And good on your employer for doingthis for you.

People who moan about having to put themselves out, are what gets British workers bad names.

 

[Spoon]

Since when has the 17th moved to being a 30 hour course? Mine was never that long.
If your employer is willing to pay for the course and give you some money towards the travel then dont whinge about it.
If they are not then do some calculations and see, as Dalf has said, if its cheaper to do it nearer you and take holidays to do it. See of the company will pay half towards the course.

 

[robbalaar86]

Just suck it up and get on with it. I had to pay for my own so be grateful and get it done.

 

[ian.settle1]

If it's any consolation ....
I came back to sparking after working for a few years in social services.
We were getting paid 2/10 of sod all and were expected to complete an SVQ L3 in our own time.
Without the L3 we were told we would be unable to continue working.
We were allocated 1 Hour per week paid time to study.
As you can imagine working for the local council we never saw the hours study time.

If they are paying for the college and it helps you in the long term grab it with both hands

Having worked for a council you would not have got an hour to study you just skived and did 8 LOL

 

[Silly Sausage]

the course which is 1 1/2 hours drive from work then around 45 minutes home.

How long does it normally take you to drive home from work?

 

[Ashley Williams]

It's about 20 minutes home. The annoying thing is local collage does it over a few days and if I did it that way my fuel cost would be no different and I would do it during work time and get paid. I've decided that if they are not willing to at least cover my fuel costs I won't be doing it.

Thanks for for the advice Ashley

 

[Octopus]

It's about 20 minutes home. The annoying thing is local collage does it over a few days and if I did it that way my fuel cost would be no different and I would do it during work time and get paid. I've decided that if they are not willing to at least cover my fuel costs I won't be doing it.

Thanks for for the advice Ashley

I hope you don't live to regret this decision!

 

[markc123]

It's about 20 minutes home. The annoying thing is local collage does it over a few days and if I did it that way my fuel cost would be no different and I would do it during work time and get paid. I've decided that if they are not willing to at least cover my fuel costs I won't be doing it.

Thanks for for the advice Ashley

No consideration for the cost of the course by your employer i see. Giving you a qualification off there own back that you can use to your advantage in the future...

Turn it down and you're a mug.

 

[Octopus]

It's about 20 minutes home. The annoying thing is local collage does it over a few days and if I did it that way my fuel cost would be no different and I would do it during work time and get paid. I've decided that if they are not willing to at least cover my fuel costs I won't be doing it.

Thanks for for the advice Ashley

And I bet Mr Polski or Mr Spaniard or Mr Italian would be putting themselves out.

 

[Robotstar5]

No consideration for the cost of the course by your employer i see. Giving you a qualification off there own back that you can use to your advantage in the future...

Turn it down and you're a mug.

It may not be what it seems, my employer put me through the 17th at a training provider about 20 miles away even though there were much closer opportunities, turned out they were getting funding from a local training initative so it didn't cost them much but had to use a specific provider.
Luckily we were sent during "works time" so got paid and used a company car for transport.

 

[Ashley Williams]

When you work for the company I do then you would understand as an apprentice I was promised I would be bought tools. For 6 months I had nothing eventually I gave up asking and had to start buying myself. I've been there 3 years now and have spent somewhere in the region of 2000 pound on my tools. In this time I've been bought 2 work t-shirts 1 pair of trousers and 3 pairs of overalls. Boots have been bought myself and so has the rest of my workwear. A few weeks ago I got a phone call on a Friday night at about 8 o'clock saying a machine has broke (I'm not on call I'm never on call my boss is)and they where desperate for it. So I travelled back to work I clocked in and then clocked out 37 minutes later. They paid me for 30 minutes and refused to pay me a penny more.

Ashley

 

[Octopus]

When you work for the company I do then you would understand as an apprentice I was promised I would be bought tools. For 6 months I had nothing eventually I gave up asking and had to start buying myself. I've been there 3 years now and have spent somewhere in the region of 2000 pound on my tools. In this time I've been bought 2 work t-shirts 1 pair of trousers and 3 pairs of overalls. Boots have been bought myself and so has the rest of my workwear. A few weeks ago I got a phone call on a Friday night at about 8 o'clock saying a machine has broke (I'm not on call I'm never on call my boss is)and they where desperate for it. So I travelled back to work I clocked in and then clocked out 37 minutes later. They paid me for 30 minutes and refused to pay me a penny more.

Ashley

All the more reason to get the qualification, add it to your CV and get a new job.

 

[markc123]

It may not be what it seems, my employer put me through the 17th at a training provider about 20 miles away even though there were much closer opportunities, turned out they were getting funding from a local training initative so it didn't cost them much but had to use a specific provider.
Luckily we were sent during "works time" so got paid and used a company car for transport.

Not sure i agree, when i was an apprentice i was made to go on courses up in Billingham, now Billingham from Scarborough is 3hours drive depending on traffic. I don't see the problem with the travel....people are just too tight about spending there 'beer' money theses days - be thankful, gain more qualifications = boost in CV / better JIB card, or more on the back making you look superior to others, thus better job opportunities in the future.

Im not sure how old the OP is but 10weeks across a life time, its naff all.

 

[markc123]

OP if you turn it down then i hope your employer sends someone else...

Hard times may arise for him (hopefully not) then who gets sacked? you - not the other geezer because hes shown willing to learn and has put himself out.

You gotta bust your balls and do things you don't wonna do to suceed in this trade. If you don't, theres always someone else that will. And that applys to all walks of life.

 

[Phoenix]

Having to buy your own tools? FFS!!! I guess you think your employer should pay for everything you need then watch you walk away? EVERYONE buys their own tools, you'll take care of them more and take pride in using the right one for the job. They are tax deductable, as is PPE. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch, pal, certainly not these days. There are guys queueing up for opportunities like this, so suck it up and get on with it or let someone else with some commitment and desire have a go. Jeez....

 

[bigdavs83]

I badgered my employer for a year to put me on the fgas course so I could be multiskilled and therefore more attractive to either them come promotion time or another employer. More than happy to take 3 hours for 2 nights a week for 10 weeks to achieve this. My employer was over the moon that I'm doing it in my own time he stumped up the £1500 for it. Grab the opportunity with both hands I say!

 

[ChrisElectrical88]

Spoiled. 2k on your tools, haha that's cheap! Don't moan about it just do it, 50 hours of your time is nothing for a qual that will help you out. More to the point, why are there still people not 17th edition qualified?

 

[Spoon]

Really. People have given you different alternatives, none of them where 'I wont do it'. I dont know how old you are but you sound like a typical young lad that wants everything on a plate.
I dive buddy of mine no longer employs English people as the eastern European people work harder and whinge less... looks like he may be right..

 

[rmc86uk]

I honestly can't believe what I am reading here! I paid for my own 17th Edition course and took three days off work unpaid! Also did the same for the IPAF and PASMA courses. I do this because I want to be the Electrician with the most tickets on the firm so when work dries up like it did at the start of the year the firm I subcontract to got rid of all the **** and I got kept on!

I work with a lad who has the same attitude as yourself where the whole world is against you! I think you need take a step back and realise how lucky you are to be working for such a company! Sorry for being harsh but things like this grind me down!

 

[specs]

! I think you need take a step back and realise how lucky you are to be working !

My feeling exactly

 

[markc123]

Spoiled. 2k on your tools, haha that's cheap! Don't moan about it just do it, 50 hours of your time is nothing for a qual that will help you out. More to the point, why are there still people not 17th edition qualified?

Exactly, unless you're new into the trade I.E. just coming out of your time then there is absolutley no reason why you should be under taking the 17th ed course now.

 

[ChrisElectrical88]

People coming out of there time would have done the 17th through college and NVQ anyway so really, 6 years + on nobody has any kind of excuse!

 

[sheephat]

Under JIB sparks with 17th edition get a higher rate, depending on your firm aswell of course.

 

[Sparkysoldman]

No consideration for the cost of the course by your employer i see. Giving you a qualification off there own back that you can use to your advantage in the future...

Turn it down and you're a mug.

I agree you should show the commitment they have shown to and do the course

 

[markc123]

Just out of interest, ive looked at what the 17th ed course is costing now...its roughly £500 quid. So the OP is being very silly IMHO.

On a side note : It says theres a 98% pass rate. HAHA if you are the 2% that fail the easiest exam in the world, you should be very ashamed.

 

[Silly Sausage]

On a side note : It says theres a 98% pass rate. HAHA if you are the 2% that fail the easiest exam in the world, you should be very ashamed.

I've met people who've failed the CSCS card test!!!