When Is an Intern an Intern?
Posted on 19-Jul-08 by The Timekeeper
So, it’s summertime, and getting interns is easy. Students are hungry for work experience for their résumés or college applications, and businesses are eager for free help. Sounds like a no-brainer, right?
Well, according to this story in the Houston Chronicle, it may not be so simple.
See, it’s only legal to hire someone as an unpaid intern when the work they do is to their benefit, not yours. In other words, an internship is supposed to be an educational experience for the intern, not free labor for your business.
So bring interns on board, by all means. Show them the ropes, teach them everything you know. Helping smart, motivated young people get more familiar and comfortable with the world of business is a good thing to do, for them and for you.
Just be careful. It’s not a simple matter to comply with all the federal and state laws (or even to know which ones might apply in your situation). It would probably be a good idea to check with your lawyer to make sure you stay on the right side of the law in terms of the kinds of activities you have them doing.
And then you (and your interns) can enjoy a carefree summer!
Update, 8-September-2008: Just came across this excellent summary of the state of the law regarding internships over at One Day, One Internship. Their conclusion? Some (many?) unpaid internships are probably illegal, but some are legal.
My advice, as always: check with your employment law specialist or attorney before you bring unpaid interns on board, just to make sure you’re operating within the law. Counting on “lax enforcement” or “flying under the radar” is risky.
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