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assisting in the realization of civil and social rights
How to avoid being deceived at work? Signs of an unscrupulous employer
10.10.2023
Many have already heard about the most common signs that an employer might deceive you: working without a contract, a mismatch between salary and position, vague requirements for the employee, poorly defined responsibilities, requests to pay for something out of your own pocket before starting work. In this material, we will discuss the less obvious signs that an employer is at least offering not the best conditions for employees, and at most — is a fraudster.
What to look out for to avoid falling victim to an employer's deception
1) The employer offers you an excessively long probationary period that is not paid. No matter how tempting the position may be, it's better not to agree to work "for free" or "for the sake of bright prospects".
2) The same rule applies to time-consuming and lengthy test assignments. Usually, the time required to complete a test assignment does not exceed two or maybe three hours. If it takes 5 hours or even a whole day to complete the assignment, a conscientious employer will usually offer compensation. The employer may set the amount of payment for the test themselves, or they may ask you to assess your own work.
If payment for such a test is not provided, then most likely the employer plans to use it as a real project for their company. This is how unscrupulous employers use job seekers as free labor.
3) The employer is upset by your questions about the vacancy. Provided that you ask polite and appropriate questions, such a reaction from the employer is suspicious. Perhaps the employer is looking for an obedient employee who will not react to violations of their rights. Or maybe this job has terrible conditions that the employer wants to hide. Remember that the company needs you just as much as you need them. Do not agree to unfavorable conditions for yourself.
Regardless of the reasons, concealing information about the position is a warning sign.
4) Vague systems of fines and bonuses, as well as salaries "with no ceiling". In fact, such a salary hides a very small salary and an endless number of bonuses. It sounds very nice, but in reality, these bonuses will be difficult to obtain.
If there are too many fines for employees in a company, this is also a cause for concern. Most likely, the employer is looking for any ways to pay you less money.
"Red flags" in job vacancies
You can often recognize a hopeless employer at the stage of reading the job vacancy. If the employer writes that they are looking for a stress-resistant employee for a position that does not involve stressful situations, then it is worth clarifying this point with the recruiter.
The wording "in our company we are not colleagues, but family" can also be alarming. It may hide unpaid overtime, work without days off or vacations. Most likely, such an employer will want you to give up your personal life (and real family) for the sake of work.
"Cookies and coffee" in the office nowadays are not an advantage, but the norm of any good place to work. So if such a clause is written in the job vacancy, then perhaps the employer actually does not have that many advantages compared to other companies.
All these phrases in job vacancies do not necessarily indicate that the place of work is bad. However, you should pay attention to such things and, if necessary, discuss them with the recruiter.
If you want to get a job in a 100% real and reputable company, but you are still not sure about the suitability of the conditions there for you, read reviews about the employer on special sites, for example, glassdoor.com. Here you can read about the pros and cons of working from real employees of the company, including those who have already left. It would also be a good idea to look for reviews in special groups on Facebook for your profession and create a profile on LinkedIn.
What to pay attention to when getting a job abroad
First of all, familiarize yourself with the labor and migration legislation of the country where you plan to work. When studying the laws, use only official websites.
Unscrupulous employers abroad may promise you a job in one country, but arrange a work visa in another (and do it independently), saying that the legislation of the first country provides for such a job option. Most likely, this is not the case, and the "employer" simply wants to take possession of your funds. But even if you do have a work visa, you will have to look for a job not where you planned.
Visa fraud can take other forms: for example, you may be promised that you can work on a tourist visa. Knowing the labor legislation will protect you from such situations.
Remember that websites that post job vacancies, social networks, and so on may not verify employers' advertisements. Therefore, carefully check the information about the employer and, if possible, use the services of licensed companies. They help you find a job abroad legally and safely. The list of licensees can be found on the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus.
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