Many employers allow students to intern in their workplaces so that the students can gain exposure to real world work, learn about a particular industry or career, or earn credit hours towards their degree requirements. If these interns are unpaid, however, employers risk liability for failure to pay minimum wage and overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Employers that enter into these arrangements without careful consideration of the FLSA risk lawsuits from former interns and United States Department of Labor (DOL) investigations.
Continue Reading New test should increase employer ability to create unpaid internship positions
unpaid internship
Hiring Unpaid Summer Interns? Keep These Important Tips In Mind
By Porter Wright on
Find an updated post on this topic, published May 7, 2018, here.
Many employers allow students to intern in their workplaces so that the students can gain exposure to real world work, learn about a particular industry or career, or earn credit hours towards their degree requirements. However, if these interns are unpaid, employers…
Sixth Circuit Applies “Primary Benefit” Test To Uphold Unpaid Internship Program
By Porter Wright on
In a decision issued on April 28, 2011, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals offers employers some clarity on the test to determine whether using unpaid interns or other student trainees violates the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Continue Reading Sixth Circuit Applies “Primary Benefit” Test To Uphold Unpaid Internship Program
DOL to Scrutinize Unpaid Internships
By Porter Wright on
Researchers have found that the number of unpaid internships has risen, likely due to employers’ limited ability to provide new paying jobs and students’ willingness to gain increasingly hard-to-come-by experience. However, officials from the Department of Labor have indicated that many unpaid internship arrangements violate federal law.
Continue Reading DOL to Scrutinize Unpaid Internships