Note: This post is over 2 years old. You may want to check later in this blog to see if there is new information.
The following links are auto-generated but may help you locate newer content:
Here’s an interesting link for those who are not paying their interns…
That is the question. With one exception, whenever we have been able to afford it, we have paid our interns. Mostly because that way I don’t have to feel guilty about asking them to do small things (make coffee), the one exception being our first intern, which is where I learned about feeling guilty. Not her fault, of course, it’s my own problem. That being said, I don’t think that the pay needs to be excessive. Because I try to give my interns as much instruction as possible, I don’t pay them a lot, but I recently learned exactly how much it costs them to get credit for an internship, so I pay them enough to recoup some of their costs. So my motivations were not as political as this article in the NY Times… referenced in this entry from Dweep’s Blog, referring to unpaid internships:
Since many internships are done for credit and some even cost money for the privilege of placement overseas or on Capitol Hill, those students who must borrow to pay tuition are going further into debt for internships.
An interesting take. I guess I don’t feel that the average American college student has so much to worry about in the financial area that they can’t afford an unpaid internship. They don’t get paid for going to class. But I got paid (fairly well) for my internships in college, and for karmic reasons will continue to pay whatever I can reasonably afford to my interns. Life would be rougher without them, that’s for sure. I do think that there’s truth in the article when it speaks about unpaid internships not preparing people for life in the real world. Making money in your chosen profession puts a value on your work and learning that is as vital as learning the skills themselves, in my opinion. Too many of us spend years in the office as drones because we don’t learn the true value of what we do. Stick it to the man, pay your interns. So here’s a thank you to my interns, your paychecks may actually be on time this week. ;-).
Never thought anyone would write an ode to interns. I stand corrected!! Though I would argue that internships deny opportunity to those below the average - financially. But point taken - there’s a lot of reasons much closer to home to pay interns, and appreciate them - like plain decency :-)
Interesting work, btw, and photos from Winona. Good luck with payrolls.
Funny, since I receive scholarships and government assistance I guess I do get paid for going to school! Please don’t shirk on intern pay; we do work hard when we’re offsite, at some place of business. And we don’t like making coffee. :) Unless it’s hazelnut flavored. Even then I’d rather get the boss one from Starbucks than have to putter around in the kitchen. Thank God there’s a machine that can boil water — I can’t even do that! (Though if I were paid maybe I would try.)
Nice blog, I will check in with you frequently!
Comments are closed
Comments are currently closed on this entry.