Are Unpaid Internships ethical?
Are Unpaid Internships ethical?
Slide 1: Background
Many Interns are constantly being abused. Many employers see internships as a way to use college kids to do the work that no one else wants to do for free.
Companies take full advantage of college students in need of internships because they know that it today’s world it is nearly impossible to get a job without having some type of prior experience in their field.
A majority of unpaid internships are legal, but are they ethical? This is where things begin to get a little more difficult. It is not illegal to have unpaid interns but when these interns are doing jobs that having nothing to do with their field this is when it becomes a problem. Many employers use interns to do their dirty work such as making photocopies, stuffing envelopes, or even going on coffee runs for the company. However, it is completely legal to have unpaid interns as long as they are doing work relevant to their field of work.
And like I’ve already mentioned many employers love summer interns because they just see it as free labor.
Slide 2: Quid Pro Quo
Quid Pro Quo is a Latin phrase that means “something for something”. The actual definition is a favor or advantage granted or expected in return for something.
This phrase can be both ethically inappropriate and mutually beneficial depending on the circumstance.
An unpaid internship is a form of quid pro quo. Someone offers to work for a company for free in exchange for the experience in the job.
When employer’s abuse their power and take advantage of their interns this is no longer considered a form of quid pro quo. It is just their employers getting power hungry.
Slide 3: The Federal Labor Dept.
The Federal Labor department is trying to solve this problem by helping educate companies, colleges, and students on the law regarding internships.
Since this violates minimum wage laws many states have come together to investigate this ongoing problem.
Some
Slide 1: Background
Many Interns are constantly being abused. Many employers see internships as a way to use college kids to do the work that no one else wants to do for free.
Companies take full advantage of college students in need of internships because they know that it today’s world it is nearly impossible to get a job without having some type of prior experience in their field.
A majority of unpaid internships are legal, but are they ethical? This is where things begin to get a little more difficult. It is not illegal to have unpaid interns but when these interns are doing jobs that having nothing to do with their field this is when it becomes a problem. Many employers use interns to do their dirty work such as making photocopies, stuffing envelopes, or even going on coffee runs for the company. However, it is completely legal to have unpaid interns as long as they are doing work relevant to their field of work.
And like I’ve already mentioned many employers love summer interns because they just see it as free labor.
Slide 2: Quid Pro Quo
Quid Pro Quo is a Latin phrase that means “something for something”. The actual definition is a favor or advantage granted or expected in return for something.
This phrase can be both ethically inappropriate and mutually beneficial depending on the circumstance.
An unpaid internship is a form of quid pro quo. Someone offers to work for a company for free in exchange for the experience in the job.
When employer’s abuse their power and take advantage of their interns this is no longer considered a form of quid pro quo. It is just their employers getting power hungry.
Slide 3: The Federal Labor Dept.
The Federal Labor department is trying to solve this problem by helping educate companies, colleges, and students on the law regarding internships.
Since this violates minimum wage laws many states have come together to investigate this ongoing problem.
Some