Just curious. I had a trial day at a new shop in town and I believed I did a really good job at what they were asking of me. I got the job but when i looked on pay stub, no pay for that day. What's up with that? Do I ask about it next time I go in or let it go? 

No, I wouldn't ask. In the industry it's part of the hiring process, unfortunately no pay is involved :(.

Congrats on getting the job though 

It depends upon the company. When I interviewed at the Hyatt, they paid me. At my shop, the four hour onsite working interview was a paid work day.

It won't hurt to ask, but based on the fact you had nothing on the pay stub, it sounds like it's unpaid.  Had they told you upfront you would be paid?

Had you already signed paperwork for being hired prior to the trial day?  If not, then they probably consider it part of the interview process.

There was no mention of an unpaid 'trial' day when I went in for the job. I was just told come back midweek so that they could see how I would do and work with their staff. I worked a full 8hr shift with only a 10min break all day. Nothing of that day was reflected on my pay stub. I can see how they may not pay me if i didn't work out, but i got the job.  I would think it would be in good faith they would  pay me seeing that i clearly did my job, so much so that i was hired. But i'm not willing to make waves if this is something common in the industry.

In Australia they legally have to pay you BUT many employees don't. If you got the job and are otherwise happy there I wouldn't rock the boat too hard. Maybe you could say something like, I was just wondering if I was meant to get paid for my trial day, if you really need the money. I have heard of people doing a whole week unpaid trial at a local fish and chip shop, I don't know how the bosses get away with that one though.

In Australia it is very common, my first job out of pastry chef school I worked what was (I thought) a days trail with no pay, turned out it was a full week without pay, even though this is illegal and an out and out abuse of employees it goes on largely without complaint due to people needed the work, or in my case the 'in industry'

 experience.  Whilst it sucked to be ripped off a weeks pay, I gained a job and a start within industry that really kicked off my career.

I sucked it up, but if you feel aggrieved you should mention it, otherwise write it off as a valuable experience and ensure you know exactly where you stand with your next trail (as I did!!!!)

I'm in Australia and have hired and fired many people over the years, we ALWAYS pay for trial hours whether they get the job or not.  As bubs1stbirthday pointed out it is illegal not to.  I do remember one of our current staff members was not paid for her trial day and came and asked me about it, it was simply an oversight and she was immediately paid the shortfall.  Go and ask you never know.

Its called a stage and yes it's legal and common.  I require 1-2 days, no pay.

AI am also in Australia and like 810whitechoc have hired and fired many people. I would have a day for interviews, have a short list, bring in the 3 short listed people for 3 hours each at separate times. This was unpaid. The 6 hour trial day I paid a courteousy cash payment at the end of the day but not a ful wage as my decision was still to be made. If they were hopeless they were sent home after 3 hours with no pay and no job. It is entirely up to the employer, however I was always open and honest about my policies.

Even an unpaid trial lasting 2 days is unfair. If you're giving someone a trial, you can definitely see if they're up to the jobs standards within a few hours. It's as simple as that.

Some of these people have to pay for public transport. The reason they are looking for a job is so they can pay to get by.

All employers should pay employees on a trial shift. It's called being fair.

- vA

I am glad I don't work in the business and surely if I did, if the person worked hard for that day I would have paid them. I feel this is very unfair. Personally, I would not want to work for someone who stooped that low not to pay you when they hired you for the job!!!  It might be legal but that does not make it right. Unfortunately, unrighteousness seems to reign in this world!!! I am so sorry that they were unfair to you because obviously you needed the money!!! Life is sometimes unfair and very hard!!

My dad used to say that Heaven will be a lonely place because most people's hearts are just not right or fair.  

My other opinion about this is that it is unprofessional!!!! 

some people want to work for free for the experience, for what they learn -- among thousands of others world-wide -- mario battali did this all over italy because he chose to --

i can see doing a couple cakes for an interview but no, not for me or my family would i agree to staging for any length of real time as part of the interview process -- we paid a small fortune for a culinary degree -- my son has worked fine dining all over the u.s. -- and staged too -- but as his choice -- not for a job --

stage is pronounced stahj

It is pretty common in the food service industry to stage for a day. If an employer is asking any more than that it is taking advantage and could be a liability waiting to happen. While I don't necessarily agree with the practice, it is what it is. Working as a chef, I have staged in several dozen restaurants. On the plus side, I did get to eat what ever I wanted- so in a sense, I was somewhat compensated. Some of those meals would have cost me way more than a days wage as a customer. 

I looked this up and they mainly do the stage in Italy. One person I read on a forum said that the company they worked for kept staging people and would never hire any of them because they could always find people desperate looking for jobs. To me, that is taking advantage of people!!!