The Rise of Unpaid Internships
As a result of the recent recession it appears that the number of unpaid internships has risen considerably according to a recent New York Times article. This practice has raised a red flag for the Department of Labor which has responded by setting forth The New Guidelines for Internships. Due to the large number of unpaid internships that exist, it is evident that many companies and organizations may find themselves in violation of meeting the 6 federal legal criteria required if an interndhip is to be unpaid. Federal and state regulators worry that employers are illegally using unpaid interns as a way to get free labor and they’ve decide to cut down on the practice.
The Educational Community Reacts
In the educational community there is concern that companies will be less likely to offer internships if they are forced to pay. Since internships are often a bridge between a student's academics and the real world, missing out on these valuable opportunities could result due to strict enforcement of the New Guidelines.
One way employers have gotten around this issue in recent years is to require that students get credit through their academic institution when doing an unpaid internships; but in reality, getting credit does not necessarily relieve the company from not paying the intern for any work that they do.
"We urge great caution in changing an approach to learning that is viewed as a huge success by educators, employers, and students alike," said a group of college Presidents led by the president of Northeastern University, Joseph E. Aoun. The group agrees that "The integration of rigorous classroom study with real-world experiences, including internships, is a powerful way to learn. We respectfully request that the Department of Labor reconsider undertaking the regulation of internships." The Director of Career Services at Cornell University says, “Providing funding for unpaid internships is the next form of scholarship. We provide great financial aid at Cornell, and an extension of that is funding a student through the summer.”
Please share what you think about the New Federal Guidelines on Internships.
