Regulators Investigating Unpaid Internships

theodp writes "With job openings scarce for young people, the number of unpaid internships has climbed in recent years, leading federal and state regulators to worry that more employers are illegally using such internships for free labor. Convinced that many unpaid internships violate minimum wage laws, officials in Oregon, California, and other states have begun investigations and fined employers. 'If you're a for-profit employer or you want to pursue an internship with a for-profit employer, there aren't going to be many circumstances where you can have an internship and not be paid and still be in compliance with the law,' said the acting director of the US Deptartment of Labor's wage and hour division."

Comments

Re:*never* understood this practice

[Rivalz]

Some people even go as far to pay for education. And the best education is on the job training. Not to mention rubbing elbows with other people in the field.

I think it is a horrible practice and that any work needs to be compensated but I at least see the reasoning behind it.