CHARITY INSISTS ITS ‘VOLUNTARY INTERNSHIPS’ ARE OPEN TO ALL — BUT CAN’T PROVIDE STATS TO BACK THIS UP
Oxfam has told Graduate Fog that it has no intention of reviewing its policy on using unpaid interns — and insisted that its ‘voluntary internships’ are fair and open to all, despite paying expenses only.
Do charities have a moral obligation to pay their interns — even if they have no legal responsiblity? Last week I stirred up hornet’s nest in a Comment is Free article on the Guardian’s website (Are charities unpaid interns really ‘volunteers’?)
If you missed the debate, here are the facts. A loophole in the national minimum wage (NMW) law says that charities needn’t pay their interns — as they can claim they are ‘voluntary workers’. But I’m concerned that many charities are using this to secure large numbers of young, educated workers to perform junior admin roles for free. In my opinion, this is not true volunteering. I’m also concerned that making internships part-time (as Oxfam do) doesn’t add up. If you’re working three days unpaid and four days for the NMW (what most casual jobs pay) you’re working seven days a week – and taking home less than £190 per week. Before tax.
Having spotted that Oxfam are currently recruiting for several unpaid positions — including a ‘marketing executive’ and a ‘research and communications assistant’ (screen grabs below) — I asked them to clarify their policy on using unpaid workers. I also asked whether they would be willing to review their policy on using unpaid interns. Here’s what they said:
We have had and continue to have a very diverse pool of interns. We work with a number of interns from a range of backgrounds, and in a range of economic circumstances. One of the common mistakes that people make is to think that our internships are only open to, and only applied for by young people and graduates. In fact, people at all life stages and circumstances undertake the roles.
A key feature of this scheme is that opportunities are always offered with flexible, part time hours. This is a key distinction between our paid roles and part-time roles, and is a feature that we consciously promote in order to ensure that individuals are able to work and earn a wage at the same time as undertaking a voluntary internship.
Our voluntary internships are very clearly ‘voluntary’. All tools associated with these roles, such as application forms, role profiles etc. are completely different from those used for recruiting and managing paid members of staff. However, one of the key features of our voluntary internship scheme is a meritocratic selection process (rather than taking on people because of ease of circumstance or promises of working long hours). In order to ensure that this meritocratic process is used, some structure to the application process (closing dates, role profiles) is required.
We campaign actively around the minimum wage and take very seriously the impact that voluntary roles can have on the diversity and fairness of our organisation. We ensure at all times that voluntary internships will benefit the individual at least as much as it does our organisation. The role of intern with Oxfam is always project-based, giving them the chance to work on something relatively high-level and meaningful, and to develop their skills.
I wrote back:
To: Oxfam Press Office
From: Graduate FogThanks for this. Just two more questions:
1) Can you tell me what percentage of Oxfam’s UK office-based ‘voluntary internships’ are currently occupied by people under the age of 30? (ie not including shop managers).
2) Are you paid to do your job?
With thanks again
Tanya
Oxfam replied:
From: Oxfam Press Office
To: Graduate FogHi Tanya,
I’m afraid I was a bit to hasty in saying we can get that figure: we do not actually know our interns’ age as it is not something we ask when in their application form and not at any stage after they start the role.
I’m happy to reveal that I am now a paid member of staff after having started as an intern.
Best,
I said:
From: Graduate Fog
To: Oxfam Press OfficeThanks for this – but I’m a little confused. You said – with great confidence – in your previous email that your voluntary internships are taken up by people at “all life stages” So how do you know that if you don’t keep records of people’s ages? Do you have this information or not? It seems a little contradictory that you can say for certain that you have voluntary interns of all ages – but then when I ask for details about the number below 30, you are suddenly unable to find this information.
Congratulations on securing paid work with Oxfam. I know a lot of my users will be very envious!
Thanks again,
Tanya
Oxfam said:
From: Oxfam Press Office
To: Graduate FogWe have empirical evidence that there are over-30 interns (I have met and worked with many myself) but I can’t provide you with a certain figure as that would be based on assumptions rather than data – as explained we do not ask for age when recruiting (both paid staff and interns).
Hope this makes sense.
Clearly, Oxfam is one of Britain’s best-loved charities and does a huge amount of excellent work. However, I am concerned that their policy on using unpaid interns is damaging to their excellent reputation. This exemption to the NMW law was designed to protect genuine volunteering — but I don’t think that’s what their interns are doing.
I also fail to see how these internships can be occupied by people of all backgrounds. Even those that are part-time are problematic. If your unpaid internship takes up three days, that leaves four days to work for money. Most casual work (especially for the young) pays minimum wage, so these interns will effectively earn less than £190 for working a seven-day week — before tax.
We all know that charities are facing tough challenges at the moment. But using unpaid interns to cut their costs should not be an option. A charity should factor in its necessary staff to its running costs. More senior, full-time employees at these charities are not expected to work for nothing to prove their dedication to the cause. So why is it fair to expect this of junior workers?
*Should Oxfam pay their interns?
What do you think of Oxfam’s statement about their use of unpaid interns? Do you agree that their voluntary internships are fair and open to all — or are poorer candidates likely to be excluded from these opportunities?
Want to see the job ads?
Marketing executive:
Research and Communications Assistant:
Well, at least it’s only 3 days a week so people can spend the other four working as cleaners…or something 😉
@RedHeadFashionista
Ha! For anyone who didn’t get that, RedHeadFashionista was referring to this blog post on Graduate Fog last week:
Sorry, why are graduates earning less than cleaners?
Hey, GradFog.
This is exploitation. Oxfam are advertising full time jobs, targeting a group with a weak economic position, and paying nothing. They should be ashamed.
However, that’s not really why I commenting.
I see you’re using Print Screen to take screenshots, and I also see you using Chrome.
There are several extensions available for Chrome to take screenshots of whole web pages. The one I use is called Diigo Awesome Screenshot. You can download it here from the Chrome Web Store. It should make it way easier for you if you want capture web page screenshots in the future:
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/alelhddbbhepgpmgidjdcjakblofbmce
Do charities have a moral obligation to pay their interns — even if they have no legal responsiblity?
They DO have a legal responsibility to act in the pubic benefit http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Charity_requirements_guidance/Charity_essentials/Public_benefit/default.aspx
http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Start_up_a_charity/Guidance_on_registering/Demonstrating_public_benefit_index.aspx
So Oxfam said…
‘We have had and continue to have a very diverse pool of interns. We work with a number of interns from a range of backgrounds, and in a range of economic circumstances. One of the common mistakes that people make is to think that our internships are only open to, and only applied for by young people and graduates. In fact, people at all life stages and circumstances undertake the roles.’
And then said…
‘We have empirical evidence that there are over-30 interns (I have met and worked with many myself) but I can’t provide you with a certain figure as that would be based on assumptions rather than data — as explained we do not ask for age when recruiting (both paid staff and interns).’
eh??
First, I presume she means ‘experiential’ rather than ’empirical’ as empirical evidence is not based on assumption.
Second, the first statement has been completely cancelled out by the second due to lack of empirical data. Meeting a couple of interns that sort of look/or informally claim to be over 30yrs is not enough to make such a strong statement.
Third, why have they not asked age and circumstance? This info should be kept to monitor diversity and to ensure responsible ’employment’ of volunteers who have to make such a heavy commitment without means of supporting themselves.
In a nutshell, what Oxfam have said is made-up and without proof and they have proved themselves to be irresponsible and unconcerned with diversity due to their lack of monitoring and associated data.
How can such a large and respected charity have such little concern for their own people?? Shameful!
@Charlene
I agree – the inconsistency of their responses was striking…
@Derrick
I actually approached the Charity Commission a couple of months ago re Comic Relief using unpaid interns – and they were spectacularly unhelpful!
Charity Commission refuses to back charity interns
@Mark Raymond
Thanks – I’m struggling a bit with my technology at the moment!
My position on this is that any unapid internship should be flexible enough to allow the intern the time to retain any work they require to do to pay their bills. I respect to three full days, I’m not sure if this isn’t pushing it. The only way I can see that working out is if this is an arbitrary way of saying ‘x number of hours per week’, which could then be made to fit around other commitments.
Let’s be straight here, no-one should be working full-time for no money, whether or not they can afford it.
Here’s a scenario that;s not happening in the building industry but it is happening in others – charities using their unpaid ‘volunteers’ and ‘interns’ to do work for third parties.
eg. My partner sets up a charity to promote the building industry it engages interns to learn about the building industry and (allegedly) delivers real life training and experience.
Now I run a building firm Ltd company, I’d also like to help some youngsters out.
Someone has an easy but large scale building project, they needs a qualified building company and engage me, I use the volunteers and interns to help design, plan and build the project.
Using charities as job agencies engaged in the supply of unpaid worker STINKS! But its going on right now!
Ah, I was one of these very interns! suckkered in by the job advert. Three days a week turned into 3 days in the office, 2 working from home.
Unpaid internships are unfair – I didn’t meet any other interns who weren’t supported by the bank of mummy and daddy. What was the make up of Oxfams interns when I was there (ended april 2011)? Middle class graduates, maximum age of about 27.
Still, the thing that really gets me is that I can’t even get a job interview at Oxfam for paid work. I worked unpaid for 7 months, have all the experience that they are asking for but can’t get an interview for even the most basic of roles.
If they must insist on running these socially unequal programmes, then they should at least have the decency to consider us for paid work afterwards!
Note though, alot of paid Oxfam staff agree that something needs to be done about the internships.
I worked as a volunteer for Oxfam for 4 afternoons a week, for about 18 months. I believe my role was advertised as an internship when I left, for a similar number of hours. I am not at all resentful about the time I dedicated to the charity, and no, I was not supported by my parents – I worked three other jobs alongside the voluntary role to pay my rent in Oxford.
I made this commitment for two reasons: first, I have huge respect for what Oxfam do and since I had little money, I wanted to contribute in some other way. Second, I found both the role, the environment and my colleagues hugely motivating. Not once did I feel resentment towards paid staff, or indeed any difference.
I did not go on to apply for a paid role within the organisation and this was never a goal (although of course, an option); I volunteered for the charity originally for altruistic reasons.
While I am completely against unpaid internships with private organisations, I think they are acceptable (at least, part-time) for charitable causes. They are beneficial for both parties.
To the above poster who was bitter about their experience, it’s regretful they didn’t get anything out of their time – I picked up plenty of skills while I was there, loved my experience and would gladly repeat it if I still lived in the city/country.
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PETA and the Fawcett Society are advertising unpaid ‘volunteer’ internships… I’d love to hear their justification??