Wellington commercial cleaning company Fresh Desk recently faced backlash after advertising an unpaid intern cleaning position on Seek NZ. The advertisement described the role as a “voluntary position,” which sparked outrage among job seekers and the public.
Fresh Desk claimed it was ‘testing the market’ by posting a job advertisement for an unpaid position. The company has apologised and said the advertisement had since been removed.
Photo source: SEEK
“We acknowledge and sincerely apologise for our recent job ad, which suggested a voluntary cleaning role. This was an error in judgement, and we deeply regret any frustration or concern caused, particularly in light of the current economic pressures on workers and the cleaning industry,” Fresh Desk stated.
Fresh Desk recognises the significance of careful decision-making in recruitment. It also reaffirms its dedication to continuously enhancing its processes to better serve both its team and the community.
The company also said that it has always been committed to paying its employees fairly, stating that all 13 members of its cleaning team earn at or above the adult living wage of $27.80 per hour.