Unpaid Internships



Unpaid Internships

Introduction

Internships are full-time work (8 hours per day, 5 days a week) that aim to give students the opportunity to apply in practice the knowledge acquired at university. They are offered by companies, research institutes and universities from receiving a financial subsidy for the student to be self-financing during their stay (accommodation, meals and per diem). The duration of internships varies between 2 and 4 months, taking a minimum of one and half months and a maximum of one year and a half. They are mostly offered between the months of June and December of each year.

A considerable amount of internships are unpaid. The unpaid internship phenomena have been a hot-topic for various academicians, educational and student quarters. Supporters of unpaid internships say, internships, even if unpaid, give students and young professionals a chance to gain beneficial work experience and develop valuable connections (Greenhaus, 200). Even though the internship may not pay, it will likely help the student get a paying job later on because more and more companies are looking for internship experience when they hire entry-level professionals. On the other hand, critics of unpaid internships believe that unpaid internships allow companies to get something for nothing. Many of those internships have no professional value, and interns are often stuck doing menial work such as fetching coffee.

Thesis Statement

Are unpaid internships fair or exploitative? Should the government more strictly enforce federal regulations concerning unpaid internships?

Discussion

In April 2010, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), in response to an increase in the number of unpaid internships, would more strictly enforce federal regulations governing such internships. State regulators in Oregon and California had reportedly already investigated and fined some employers for offering unpaid internships that did not meet the legal criteria needed to waive federal minimum wage requirements.

Internships are generally temporary positions with private companies, nonprofit organizations or government agencies where students or young professionals can gain experience and make connections in fields in which they intend to pursue careers. According to the New York Times, the percentage of college undergraduates holding internships jumped to 50% in 2008, from 17% in 1992 (U.S. Government, 2011).

The Department of Labor requirements for unpaid internships have largely gone unenforced. The Department of Labor is now investigating, and possibly fining, employees for noncompliance, but is also seeking to educate colleges, students and employers on the federal legal criteria for unpaid internships (DeLorenzo, 2000).

A report published in the Times, regarding the possible actions of Department of Labor, has triggered a flurry of editorials and commentary from employers, college students, university career offices and student newspapers on the value and fairness of the unpaid internship. While many commentators were divided over unpaid internships, there was widespread acknowledgment that internship experience was invaluable to young applicants seeking to gain an edge in the currently sluggish job market.

Because many employers require internship experience as a demonstration of interest in their particular field, many high school and college students compete fiercely—sometimes against recent graduates or other young professionals ...