Legal Question in Employment Law in Pennsylvania

Unpaid Training Period

I am a manager at a food service establishment and my question relates to a training period. We like our new employees to train for 3 days broken into four-hour shifts. We were paying the full pay rate before but that became a problem.There is so much to learn a trainee can only get involved with the help of another employee or manager. Basically we were paying them the full amount to watch or shadow others. Is it legal to have an unpaid training period? Should we pay minimum wage for the training? If they agree to work the 12 hours unpaid, does that make it legal? Do we need it in writing?

Thank you


Asked on 10/15/06, 7:45 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Matthew Kelly Kelly Law

Re: Unpaid Training Period

No, it is not legal to not pay someone even if they are just shawdowing and even if they agree not to be paid. You may, however, pay tem minimum wage or a lower training wage in certain circumstances.

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Answered on 10/16/06, 11:14 am


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