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I think your source on the growing unpaid internship may be a little dated due to the fact that since August 2011, there have been a number of high profile cases since then where unpaid interns have been suing their employers citing unfair labor practices.
Whether the internship is paid or not isn't the issue. They came on board for college credits (I'm assuming) and know the deal when they start. This behavior is horrible.
I've always made sure interns in my department are paid but I had similar issues that started a few years ago. Now we just lay it all out during the interview and tell them what the expectations are and what happens if policy isn't followed. That seems to help weed out those who know they're not going to last.
With all the people who have posted here saying they're looking for an internship, even unpaid, just to get their foot in the door or get some experience, we shouldn't be so naive as to think nobody but slugs would ever accept such a position.
Since you are PAYING THEM, then yes, you SHOULD expect them to do as you ask without any problems.
When you don't, then you get what you get. *shrugs shoulders*
Anyone who accepts an unpaid internship is, in my mean-spirited opinion, a bad unit of labor, and shouldn't be in the labor market to begin with. I am strongly suspicious of the critical-thinking skills of anyone who accepts a position at a wage rate of $0.00 an hour -- the opportunity costs of such an arrangement are immense. One would be better off spending that time doing a whole array of different things, the least of which simply being partaking in leisure.
I wanted to say the same thing but didn't want to come across as judgmental. To put a finer point on it, the person who does unpaid work comes across as desperate and pitiful. What's sad is that their parents are probably financing their gig, because they likely have to live at home as a young adult in order to work for free. Businesses know that desperate parents who want little Johnny or Janie to succeed, will be willing to give the adult kid money and a place to live while they do the free work.
I would have huge question marks about someone with an "unpaid internship" on their resume, especially if they had worked for longer than six months at it. If they worked for well over a year without pay, I would think they were a buffoon and definitely not someone I'd want making crucial decisions in the workplace.
I mean, I once did an unpaid gig but it was only for TWO WEEKS and it was part of my training program as well.
Instead of an unpaid internship, they could get experience doing volunteer work for a non-profit charity and they could still put it down on their resume as job experience - and contribute something of real value to society at the same time.
I think your source on the growing unpaid internship may be a little dated due to the fact that since August 2011, there have been a number of high profile cases since then where unpaid interns have been suing their employers citing unfair labor practices.
And I've been asking for these cases and haven't seen them. Where are they? Did the employee actually win the case? If so, that's relevant. If the employee did not win, its not that relevant. Employees can sue their employer for any reason.
And I'd also like to see data on how unpaid internships are shrinking because I haven't seen that, I've only seen information that they are growing like crazy.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeo123
I think your source on the growing unpaid internship may be a little dated due to the fact that since August 2011, there have been a number of high profile cases since then where unpaid interns have been suing their employers citing unfair labor practices.
Exactly. It has done a complete reversal the last couple of years. Legal departments have widely advised against them over the last couple of years.
Quote:
Originally Posted by palomalillie
And I've been asking for these cases and haven't seen them. Where are they? Did the employee actually win the case? If so, that's relevant. If the employee did not win, its not that relevant. Employees can sue their employer for any reason.
And I'd also like to see data on how unpaid internships are shrinking because I haven't seen that, I've only seen information that they are growing like crazy.
Google the "Black Swan" legal case, it is the most recent big ruling against unpaid internships.
After dealing with a string of interns with horrible work ethics, I'm just curious if anyone else has been having the same issue.
I work for a large and well known global company. We do not pay our interns but offer college credits and allow them to pick their own hours (typically 20-30 hours/week). I've worked two unpaid internships myself and I know how much it sucks to not get any reimbursement, but that didn't stop me from working hard to gain experience and positive references.
However, the past few interns I co-supervised were absolutely lazy and terrible. It's not just me, my other teammates had the same problems. I've also talked to colleagues in separate departments who also shared their stories of awful interns.
Here is a list of behavior my colleagues and I have actually dealt with: interns showing up 2-3 hours after the agreed start time with no notice, leaving early without checking in first, watching videos on their computers instead of finishing pressing projects, napping in the company kitchen area, long lunches with fellow interns (even after showing up late), replying to large group emails with unnecessary or inappropriate comments, bringing friends into the office without asking permission, claiming to have worked on a project all day but the document somehow didn't get saved so they can't send it to you (this happened 3 times).
I am understanding when an intern does a project wrong because that means I didn't clearly explain the instructions. But the behavior I'm seeing is so ludicrous - this should be plain common sense. The worst part is we sit down with the interns and point out their unprofessional behavior and it still continues!
I will take the over that you probably are breaking the law, since intern work (erhhhh.... slave labor) is highly regulated. Regulated to the point that you can receive no economic benefit from their free labor.
It is an 18th century concept in the 21st century!
I wanted to say the same thing but didn't want to come across as judgmental. To put a finer point on it, the person who does unpaid work comes across as desperate and pitiful. What's sad is that their parents are probably financing their gig, because they likely have to live at home as a young adult in order to work for free. Businesses know that desperate parents who want little Johnny or Janie to succeed, will be willing to give the adult kid money and a place to live while they do the free work.
Huh? I can tell you nearly half of the work in the northeast in government is largely performed for free. Countless board and commissions have unpaid labor. It is hardly desperate or pitiful as frankly it builds a portfolio. The town moderator in my town was moderator from age 21 to 81.
It isn't all about the money. Because public records are public it validates the work being performed rather then experience at some corporation which will say whatever it wants to.
In the private sector yes you have to pay for your intern or at the very least pay for any form of credits because if you offer credits that does imply that you are paying for them. furthermore the legal status of interns is what is really at question here. To argue that someone cannot qualify for minimum wage means what exactly? If there is an accident does the insurance claims at company xyz cover said person? If not why not?
As for living at home frankly much of the planet lives in multigenerational housing and frankly since most living in cities they are never truly "alone" for starters. Is anyone in NYC, Chicago, LA etc *really* alone if they can throw a rock at someone at ten feet at any point? If you really want to live alone you have to move out to a remote part of the country and that nullifies any point of doing so.
People can legally work for free but that is volunteering. That also can come with a cost as well as there has to be background checks, credit checks etc depending on the work being performed. If the OP is not keeping records at all then they are dooming themselves for failure if it comes up.
What kind of company hires interns and asks them to work 20-30 hours a work for free? Screw the college credits. No reputable "Global company" does that. Your company sucks OP and I don't blame the interns for slacking off. Why should anyone work that many hours for free? Jesus Christ these people and their demands. I hope this thread was a joke, because it sure sounds like one.
If they are unpaid than I thought they could not be doing anything that was not directly linked to them learning the job? meaning no working on pressing projects or working on important documents just because the company needs them
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If you really want to live alone you have to move out to a remote part of the country and that nullifies any point of doing so.
