<p>I work for a company that have a system like this: each employee is assigned an x amount of hours for different projects. For example, I was assigned 2000 hours for project A. After my 2000 hours are up, I will either get more hours for another project or get laid off. I am almost at the end of my current project (2 more months), and I was told by my supervisor that I may get assigned to another one after my hours are up.
Let’s call this project B. He wants me to get started on B now. However, since I am only billed under project A, I will not be paid if I am to work in project B. I will have to do this on my own time. Work the regular 8 hours on A and another 2 or 3 hours of my own time on B. He said it’s a good chance to gain some experience and ask if I am up to it. Thing is, I am afraid they might laid me off after my current project is over if I refuse. I am thinking of just sucking it up in hopes that my boss will see me as hardworking and willing to learn, or am I just being a sucker?
BTW, I am an hourly, non-exempt worker.</p>
<p>To be fair, since the scope of work of project B is quite different from that of A, he wants me to start early and get acquainted to the type of work that I will be doing. But I am not so sure about working overtime without pay.</p>
<p>Honestly, I would probably start looking for another job, but also prepping SOME for the possibility of project B. This current job does not sound like a good long term option. </p>
<p>I would not do any real work for job B that benefited the company without a payment agreement. But familiarizing yourself with a new project so you can hit the ground running would make you more likely to get job B. That is, if you dont have a new job to go to by then. </p>
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