Internship definitions clarified under new Labor laws

Students nationwide are preparing for their summer internships, and so is the U.S. Department of Labor.

A surge in unpaid internships as a result of financially-stretched companies offering more uncompensated positions has prompted the department to clarify requirements.

It wants to make sure unpaid interns are not unfairly overworked.

According to the revised requirements, internships with for-profit companies should resemble educational training and must benefit the student without displacing paid workers or providing immediate advantages to the employer.

Also, both student and employer have to agree that the student won’t be paid and the student won’t be guaranteed a job after the internship.

“It’s the first time that they are using the word ‘intern’,” said Gary Miller, assistant director of business-related internships at University Career Services.

Miller said the revisions only clarify guidelines and will not affect students who have acquired internships through University Career Services because those companies already follow the revised stipulations.

Although there has been an increase in unpaid internships, the N.C. Department of Labor has not received many complaints from students regarding unfair work practices during internships, said Dolores Queensberry, director of communications for the department, in an e-mail.

She also said that she does not expect to receive complaints from companies as a result of the revised guidelines.

But Miller said the guidelines could cause some employers to not offer unpaid internships because they are unsure if their programs meet requirements.

“They may think, ‘I’m unsure of what I’m doing, so I’ll just stop’,” Miller said.

More companies might be looking for unpaid interns, but the continuing recession is causing an increase in demand for paid internships among students.

This could mean that the revised requirements would have little impact on students’ internship choices.

Kelly Kessler, a sophomore political science major, said she might intern without compensation with Project Vote Smart this summer to gain more work experience.

But she said the lack of money is causing her to rethink her options and that the revised stipulations will not sway her decision either way.

“The economy is the reason I’m not sure that I’m going to take it,” Kessler said.



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