LengthinessMuted1128's journey

I recently started a part-time job as a customer service associate at a local retail store. I've completed a few shifts, but this week was supposed to be my official training period. During my first training shift, a fellow trainee asked our manager a question, and that’s when I learned that these training shifts are unpaid. I was completely taken aback because I’ve never encountered a situation like this before. After the shift, I did some research and found out that there are laws regarding unpaid labor, though I'm not entirely sure if my employer is violating any regulations. It seems to me that the training is mandatory since I need it to perform my job effectively. During the training, we weren’t doing any actual work; it was purely learning and observing our coworkers. I’m feeling quite disillusioned with the company for various reasons, and this unpaid training revelation has only added to my concerns. I’m seriously considering looking for other job opportunities. I’m also contemplating emailing my boss to confirm the unpaid status of the training, even though I suspect the manager was clear about it. I just find it odd that this wasn’t communicated upfront. I’ve asked a few friends about this, and opinions are mixed. Some believe I should definitely be paid for my time, while others think it’s not a big deal as long as I get paid for my shifts after training. I’m starting to think that if they’re already being shady about this, it might be time to cut my losses and find a better job.