Stop Asking Virtual Assistants to Work for Free (Unpaid Work)

TL;DR: Many virtual assistants (VAs) are being asked to work unpaid trials, which is exploitative and unethical. This practice shifts all risk onto VAs while clients face no consequences. The article advocates for ethical hiring practices, emphasizing that VAs should be compensated from the start for their skills and time. Hiring fairly not only respects VAs but also enhances business relationships and attracts top talent.

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Introduction: The Problem with Unpaid Work

Hiring a virtual assistant (VA) sounds simple: find skilled help to manage your emails, schedule, customers, or daily tasks. But it's documented across social media and online job posts that too many now include a catch: "first week unpaid trial" or "training period before we commit." VAs face a growing expectation to work for free, expected to labor without pay while delivering real value. They're asked to clear their schedules, learn your tools and processes, complete real work, and join your meetings, all without pay and no guarantee of a job afterward.

Unpaid work (whether called trials, training, or onboarding) shifts every risk onto virtual assistants while clients risk nothing. This guide shows you how to hire ethically. Treat workers with dignity and professionalism, no matter where they're from, because VAs deliver genuine value from day one, and fair pay builds better partnerships.

Is This Really a Problem?

Yes, and it's well documented in VA communities. In VA Workers PH, a Facebook group with over 220,000 members, virtual assistants regularly post about unpaid trial requests. One recent post asked: "I'm about to start a 2-day unpaid trial with [a company] as a VA. Has anyone here worked with them before?" Another VA in the same community wrote: "I'm honestly baffled by some VA agencies today. They require multiple interviews, endless screenings, trial tasks, and long waiting periods, only to end up offering $3 per hour."

These aren't isolated incidents. The practice appears across hiring platforms and industries. On Reddit's recruiting forums, job seekers in tech report similar experiences with unpaid work trials. On Upwork, freelancers regularly encounter clients requesting unpaid trial projects before discussing payment terms. LinkedIn professionals have posted warnings about unpaid trial requests, noting that, depending on jurisdiction, requiring candidates to complete unpaid work may actually be illegal.

The numbers back this up: 71% of freelancers surveyed (over 5,000 respondents) reported payment problems at some point in their career, losing an average of $6,000 annually.When unpaid trials are added to an already difficult payment landscape, it compounds the exploitation VAs face.

Here's the truth: these incidents happen, but they shouldn't. Even if unpaid trials weren't widespread, one VA asked to work for free is one too many. Every professional deserves to be paid for their time and expertise from the first task. The fact that this practice is common doesn't make it acceptable. It makes changing it more urgent.

Why Unpaid Work Is Exploitative

Unpaid trials hit hardest where pay is already lowest. VAs in the Philippines typically earn $2 to $15 per hour, while those in India earn $2 to $12 per hour, compared to $20 to $100+ in the US or UK. When you ask someone earning $5 per hour to work free for a week or even a day, that's a direct hit on their finances they can't afford. When payment problems are already widespread among freelancers, adding unpaid trials makes exploitation even worse.

Unethical clients exploit this power imbalance. With thousands of VAs competing for every job, they know desperate workers will accept unpaid trials just to get their foot in the door. This race to the bottom only works because clients can easily replace anyone who refuses to work for free.

Treating unpaid work as normal sends a clear message to VAs: that their time has no value. You can't build partnerships by exploiting one side from the start.

Let's be clear: asking workers to work without pay is exploitative, no matter how it's framed. Clients, companies, and agencies that require unpaid trials signal that they lack basic professional ethics. In contrast, those with integrity understand that fair compensation isn't optional. It's the foundation of any legitimate business relationship. Paying for work from day one isn't generous; it's the baseline standard that separates ethical employers from exploitative ones.

Addressing "Need to Test Fit"

You absolutely should verify skills. That's smart hiring. It's okay to want to see if a VA's skills match what you need. But making them do unpaid work isn't the answer.

Here are three proven, fair alternatives that protect both sides:

• Pay for a quick test job, like 2 to 3 hours at their regular rate.

• Try a short paid deal, such as 10 hours or a one-week tryout. This lets you test the fit without a long-term commitment.

• Review their portfolio first: Look at past work, ask for references from people they've helped before, or watch sample videos.

Pro tip: If you can't pay for a few hours to test, you might not be ready to hire anyone yet. Fair testing attracts better talent than free labor ever will.

Hidden Business Costs of Unpaid Work

Unpaid work hurts your business too. Here's why it backfires:

• You lose top talent: Experienced VAs with strong portfolios say no and move on, leaving you with workers who have fewer options.

• Trust is damaged from day one: Workers who feel undervalued deliver minimum effort. When you signal that their time isn't worth paying for, you've already undermined the foundation of a productive partnership.

• You perpetuate exploitation: It normalizes a cycle where freelancers lose money and wait months for payment. Unpaid trials send the message that this is acceptable.

Want to attract loyal, skilled partners? Pay for every bit of work from the start. Fair clients build strong reputations and get first access to the best talent.

Ethical VA Hiring Practices

Hiring fairly is simple and benefits everyone. Just treat VAs like the pros they are:

• Pay for any real work they do from the first minute.

• Use paid short tests or clear small jobs instead of unpaid work.

• Write down the deal: what they'll do, how much, when you pay, and how long, to avoid mix-ups that hit most freelancers.

• Count setup time as work, like calls, videos, guides, or tool setup, even if you call it "training."

Why this matters: VAs handle your daily grind, keep your schedule smooth, help customers, and get content out. If that's worth hiring for, it's worth paying for with dignity, regardless of location.

>> A Quick Look at Pay Differences: VAs in developing areas face offers as low as $1.99/hour across the internet, while those in richer countries charge $20 to $100+/hour. Philippines rates run $2 to $15/hour, India $2 to $12/hour. Many VA agencies take 50% to 75% commission cuts, leaving workers shortchanged even when clients pay premium rates.

For context, starting VAs in richer countries typically charge $20 to $30 per hour, while those in developing areas may receive offers as low as $1.99 to $9 per hour. Mid-level VAs in richer countries earn $30 to $50 per hour compared to $6 to $15 per hour in developing areas. Expert VAs command $50 to $100+ per hour in richer countries, while those in developing areas may earn $12 to $35+ per hour. These disparities make the impact of unpaid work even more severe for VAs in lower-income regions.

Call to Action

Ready to hire better? If your hiring process includes unpaid trials or training periods, here's your action plan:

1. Audit your job posts: remove any language about unpaid work.

2. Set a paid test budget: allocate 2 to 10 hours for skills verification.

3. Draft clear terms: document what you'll pay, when, and for what scope.

4. Lead with respect: treat VAs like the professionals they are from first contact.

Remote work thrives when everyone wins: Pay people fully and on time for what they do for you, starting with the first task. This builds trust, attracts talent, and treats workers with the professionalism they deserve, no matter where they call home.