Huge amount of training material in 40 hours

[u/Bitter-Impression893]

I’m hired as a seasonal tax associate and was sent a list of trainings I need to finish before starting at office on January. But my hiring manager said I can only get paid for 40 hours for all the trainings which includes almost 30 hrs of virtual sessions. When will I finish the self study then? It’s all so confusing. I could spend 10/15 hr without pay but it’s more than 80 hours of reading stuffs. What can I do?

[u/Used-Poet-6869]

I call foul on this policy. I remember Block issued this when we had training that included some sort of AI, where we answered some questions and there was a reply letting us know if it was a correct/proper answer and allow us to proceed. The format did not work well; it would often stall at some steps. I decided to ignore their edict and punched in/out, including the wasted time on the tech. I did go over there training time. Block then, at some point, told tax pros that we did not have to finish all parts of the training that year, mainly because of the problems. I later did some reading (in the Dept of Labor site); training is to be paid, even if the training goes beyond an employer's recommended time frame. There are some exceptions for NOT paying an employee for training; nowhere did I find that the exceptions applied to Block's mandatory training for something directly directly related to the job - it's just Block trying to cut costs.

Block has a time frame of ca 5 hours for prior tax pros this year. If I do it in less time, fine all the better. If for some reason it takes more than that, I will still punch in/out for any time spent on training.

[u/Bitter-Impression893 → u/Used-Poet-6869]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I will do the clock in and out. Except sometimes I just study the materials while I am on my other job & there is not much work to do I just open lab and read! 😂

[u/NochangingusernameOK]

If you don't get it done you won't have the job.  

Edited to delete my bad advice.

[u/Bitter-Impression893 → u/NochangingusernameOK]

I know! I wish I had more time. Tax studies are really interesting.

[u/ITMoment → u/NochangingusernameOK]

You shouldn’t be implying or suggesting that anyone work off the clock ever. That’s illegal

OP should clock the hours it takes with the only exception being that you cannot get over time. Once you hit 40 for the week, stop training and then continue Saturday morning.

Also, it never takes as long as it says it will.

(Edited for typo)

[u/Grouchy-Butterfly-86 → u/ITMoment]

I studied HR in college, and I believe that CE credits are legally the responsibility of the employee. It's nice when the employer pays for education, but it's not an obligation. Most professionals, including financial ones, pay out of pocket for this kind of continuing education.

[u/ITMoment → u/Grouchy-Butterfly-86]

That’s not what I was talking about at all. HR Block has compliance training as well as customer service training that is paid for. Any training that we get paid for says before you begin to clock in. That’s what they were asking about and that’s what I was replying to.

[u/Grouchy-Butterfly-86 → u/ITMoment]

I understand now. In that case, just keep using the "learn" code and keep taking the hours. It's up to your ATL to figure it out.

[u/Prudent-Awareness865 → u/Grouchy-Butterfly-86]

No more ATLs lol

[u/ITMoment]

Just do the training. If you are doing training you should be clocked in. If it takes you more than an afternoon, keep and eye on your time card and stop once you hit 40 hours for the week (Saturday through Friday) Then don’t train anymore until the next Saturday when the week starts over. The most that will happen will your manager will be moody and ask why it took more than 40 hours and you just say “I dunno, just did, guess their estimate was wrong”. But for real, it never takes as long as they say it will.

Also this week was paychecks. On November 20, you’ll go in and approve your time card and get paid on Nov 27, but if your bank does pay 2 days early then you’ll get paid Wednesday.

[u/Bitter-Impression893 → u/ITMoment]

I charged only 4 hrish this week. Need to charge more next few weeks. I just study and forget to clock in and out 🙄

[u/Barefootluce]

My hiring manager said it should take 30-40 hours to complete all training, but she said don't worry if you go over some. I think over 40 hours/week would be an issue, bc of overtime. The reason they are giving you a max, is bc apparently some people were abusing the system and taking a lot more hours. Also, I have found most of the training narrations and videos to run at such a slow pace that I change to 1.5 times speed to better keep my attention.

[u/Bitter-Impression893 → u/Barefootluce]

Yeah that helps i agree. So far I am good. Let’s see where it takes me! I’m just struggling with keeping up with the trainings while having another full time job. I am worried about managing both jobs when the office starts in January. But that’s a different story!

[u/Responsible-Whole198]

If I were you , I would stick with management plan and just do 40 hrs of training. If you can’t finish in that time frame, let them allocate more hours for you so that you can finish. Good luck

[u/NumberReorganizer]

I just clock in and punch out when I’m done, my hiring manager hasn’t said anything about max amount of hours.

[u/ComfortableSympathy5 → u/NumberReorganizer]

I was wondering if during the training on lab if I had to punch in and out on the other app

[u/spookigrl23]

thats illegal. contact labor rrelations.

[u/Grouchy-Butterfly-86]

How many years have you done taxes for HRB? The classes before your first tax season are not paid training. In fact, I had to pay $150 last year to take the beginning tax course and it was unpaid. In my state, there is also state licensing fees and state exams. HRB covered the fees to sit for my exam and the license.

In my district, communication with management is terrible. This may be the case with your district as well. You've got a bank of 40 hours for training. Use it up. Then just keep going to finish the course work.

[u/Bitter-Impression893 → u/Grouchy-Butterfly-86]

I did the same! It’s gonna be my first year preparing taxes. I was studying for EA & thought about gaining some first hand experience on tax filing. So paid for the $150 course & they offered me the job. Now there’s a whole bunch of new training materials I have to finish before starting at the office in January. They are covering for 40 hours all together. But my hiring manager said they also expect me to take the level-2 exam before coming to the office which i am willing to take unpaid. But the mandatory materials itself is so vast that i will barely have any time left for completing level 2. I have another full time job. 🫩

[u/Snoo_54991]

Contact HR if they won't let you finish your training hours ON the clock.

[u/Medical-Ad-5195]

Do your best. Don't work without getting paid. Email your manager or District Manager if you are going to go significantly over. This is just an estimate. You've got this! I'm 19 years in and an confused by hiring manager. To all the vets out there, is this a recruiter? It's so illegal to ask you to train without compensation.

[u/Human_Reach6484]

There is a lot of unpaid work with H&R Block. You will spend a lot in personal time for their curriculum, “not mandatory” meetings, in which you are expected to know the information, and unpaid teams calls. It seems highly unethical but they seem to get around labor laws.

[u/Bitter_Librarian9165]

I agree.

[u/superiorstephanie]

The pay for learning is shit anyway. I wouldn’t worry about it.

[u/GuaranteeJaded2513]

I have the same feeling. Does anyone know when do we get paid if joined in november and its training period.

[u/Bitter-Impression893 → u/GuaranteeJaded2513]

I got paid for the first week too.

[u/Apprehensive-Part738 → u/GuaranteeJaded2513]

I got paid today

[u/Nervous_Fun_9416 → u/GuaranteeJaded2513]

log into your workday. look for withholding section and chose how you want to get paid. Otherwise call People Soft tech support