Are ther any guidelines that restrict the amount of hours an unpaid intern can be scheduled to work? Our daughter is currently in an unpaid internship that was supposed to be schedule at 30 hours per week for six weeks...she has been working about 60 hours per week. We certainly want her to understand the value of hard work but believe this is a bit excessive. Please advise if you can.
Kind regards.
Kimberly Schudallaof PA10:12PM July 03, 2012
We require internships for graduation for the College of Business...and they are considered as a graded class with up to 3 credits (depending on the length of the intenrhsip). Here's the thing you shouldn't overlook--because Longwood's internships are considered a class and each intern has a working relationship with a professor, interns have expenses ($$/credit) so most of our interns are paid for their intenrhsips. Not all mind you, but the vast majority. Employers should acknowledge that student interns may have course fees and other expenses that are offset when the internships are paid. Our internships are experiential and structured learning and not free labor!
William H. Baxterof VA1:54PM July 24, 2011
Alexis, this is a very illuminating article. I'm glad unpaid internships aren't being villainized as much as they were. At my company, Come Recommended, I am the proud mentor of 5 (unpaid) interns. The majority of my staff were promoted interns.
In my newest book, Lies, Damned Lies & Internships, I examine the internship and what a paid internship really is. In it, I seek change in internship regulation and how universities handle internships. Do you see a change in the way internships work?
Heather R. Huhmanof MD12:52PM July 19, 2011
It's worth noting that nonprofits are exempt from these rules (which makes sense, since nonprofits frequently utilize volunteers).
Alison Greenof DC10:46AM July 19, 2011
It's worth noting that nonprofits are exempt from these rules (which makes sense, since nonprofits frequently utilize volunteers).
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Kimberly Schudalla of PA 10:12PM July 03, 2012
William H. Baxter of VA 1:54PM July 24, 2011
Heather R. Huhman of MD 12:52PM July 19, 2011
Alison Green of DC 10:46AM July 19, 2011
Alison Green of DC 10:45AM July 19, 2011