As discussed in this chapter, April 2010 U.S. Department of Labor guidelines require employers to provide educational benefits to interns who participate in unpaid internships. If the interns are completing tasks that further the organization’s interests rather than their own, they should be compensated with wages.
a. What benefit might a college student derive from an unpaid internship, apart from academic credit or an educational experience?
b. What effect might these guidelines have on the availability of internships?
c. Why do you think the U.S. Department of Labor addressed unpaid internships in 2010?