SOCIAL MOBILITY WATCHDOG PUSHES FOR OUTRIGHT BAN ON WAGE-FREE PLACEMENTS
An influential new report has loaded pressure on employers still using unpaid interns to end the practice immediately. Having unpaid young workers effectively doing real jobs is exploitative, unfair and having a hugely damaging impact on social mobility.
The Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission has recommended a total ban on all unpaid internships after the General Election in May 2015, if employers don’t improve the situation by then. Alan Milburn, the former Labour Cabinet minister who chairs the commission, told The Independent:
“Some people can afford to work for free, but many cannot. The current system is blocking out individuals with high potential but modest financial means, from getting on the professional career ladder.
“If the professions are going to be truly representative of the society they serve, then they will have to do more to actively diversify their workforces.”
Although legal experts say most interns are already covered by the minimum wage law (which says that anyone done the job of a ‘worker’ must be paid at least the minimum wage), a new law could help to close loopholes and clarify ambiguities which some employers are using to wriggle out of cases brought by former interns.
Another important proposal is the so-called four-week rule. Currently, the responsibility falls on an intern to prove that they are a worker in order to gain the minimum wage. The four-week rule would shift the burden on to the employer. After the intern has been in a workplace for four-weeks, they must receive at least the minimum wage unless their employer can prove they are NOT a worker. Although this seems like a small change, the campaign group Intern Aware believe it is a significant change in the law which will make interns’ complaints far easier to uphold.
Graduate Fog is always delighted to see the subject of unpaid internships being given the serious attention it deserves. As regular readers of this website know, this is not about young people whining about making the tea for free. Unpaid internships exploit those who do them and exclude those who can’t afford to do them. The practice has already been going on for far too long. Calling an end to it is long overdue.
*WILL THIS REPORT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
What action would you like to see taken to make unpaid internships a thing of the past? Whose responsibility is it to stamp out unpaid internships? If the government and employers are reluctant to change the current situation, what should happen next?
What social mobility? Gone are the days where you start in the mail room and move your way up the corporate ladder.
Today, employers want people with a college degree + 3-5 years experience + professional certifications for an entry level position. This all at the expense of the potential employee.
Lets compare Gen Y and The Baby Boomers
Baby Boomer Generation = Free education + High paying jobs, very cheap house prices, have 3 kids, and awesome retirement.
Gen Y = Over-educated and underemployed, No jobs, No house, No kids, and No retirement.
Why work?
I think its entirely unfair and quite frankly ridiculous to expect businesses to take on students or graduates who for the most part don’t have experience. Work experience, internships whatever you call them are a win -win, you don’t have experience you get it from a company in exchange for assistance in the office.
We all know by now that most (not all) university courses don’t equip students for real world jobs/careers, half of university students/grads can’t even use basic office IT programmes like Microsoft Office yet they expect a salary, benefits, and training in the basics at the expense of the business. There are so many stipulations, rates and regulations small businesses/business in general when they contribute so much to society.
Maybe a solution would be to revise university programmes, encourage uni’s to work with businesses – maybe pay the business to take on an intern or 2 from the hefty uni fees they receive! Why is it the responsibility of a company to educate, train and pay students – this is the job of the university’s and essentially what students pay £9K a year for.
Most tutors/lecturers of HE institutions have worked or currently work in industry so why aren’t the students/grads leaving uni with real world experience?
Your outrage and disdain should be directed towards the government and university’s for charging you extortionate fees and not providing the skills that make you employable. Equally students must take responsibility for their own learning and ensure that they hold themselves and their universities accountable – don’t just learn how to pass an exam or how to memorise information if this won’t help you in real life – students, you pay for a service make sure you get it!
We live in a fast paced competitive world its imperative to have some knowledge and experience of a job before starting an entry level position. Regulate the type of work done by students during internships, but don’t expect businesses to take on students or graduates that don’t have experience to do the job. Would you spend time and money training someone who will leave the job after a short period of time?
You’re in ga ga land Helen. Internships don’t lead to jobs for most people. Like Chris says, these type of companies want years of paid work experience.