From the article: Colleges Want Government to Leave Internships to Education
What do you think about the New Guidelines recently issued by the Department of Labor? Some say the Guidelines will reduce the number of internships available to students. Others say it’s about time and that companies need to bite the bullet and pay students a fair wage for the work that they do. It appears that the recent recession has brought to light the high number of unpaid internships out there and most likely the numbers have increased due to staff shortages created by lay-offs and the practice of not filling positions that have recently become vacant. Please tell us what you think about the New Federal Guidelines. Share Your Thoughts
Paid internships: win-win
- I'm glad they made the guidelines somewhat more strict but I'm not at all happy about how many employers find a way around the guidelines by requiring interns to receive college credit for their work. Students essentially pay for their internships -- just another way to widen the class divide. I don't think it would hurt companies to at least provide minimum wage. If they're barely benefiting from their interns, just don't hire them. And anyway, it's risky to hire unpaid interns. Just pay these students...better safe than sorry.
- —Guest LZ
