There were shocked whispers in the office when we first heard. It was less than ten years ago and the word was that some PR consultancies were taking on young graduates and not paying them. We couldn't believe it. In the company that I worked for the policy was clear: everyone who worked there - even for a short time - was paid.
So I think that unpaid internships are a recent phenomenon, at least in Ireland, yet already there is a drive to normalise the idea that young and not so young people should not be paid for working. I wonder if those offering unpaid internships also agree with the view that people don't value what they get for FREE. One of the basics tenets of capitalism I believe...
This should surely apply to labour too. If you're not paying your employees, why would you value them? Why would you bother giving them meaningful work? Why would you care what work they did at all - if any? Most people have heard anecdotal stories of interns being told to walk the MD's dog and the like. Can you imagine the effect this must have on the self-esteem of a 21 year old who has just spent 15 years or so studying in the expectation of an enjoyable career? And the sad thing is that interns can be a huge asset to any firm: I always enjoyed the chance to work with them. Mostly, they were enthusiastic and had great ideas. In PR it was easy - you just gave them a project and supervised their work. And I loved their delight when they saw coverage in a newspaper of a press release that they had drafted :)
And how do employers regard unpaid interns? Why would they be impressed that your skills, enthusiasm, determination and abilities were worth absolutely nothing, when they see on your CV that your only employment was not paid?
I think there is a role for internships with nominal pay as part of a college course or training programme. But a job is a job and should attract a proper rate of pay.
I left college in the dark days of the early-1980s, but there is no way that I would have worked - except in a voluntary capacity - for no pay. In my first job the basic pay was good and there was paid overtime, premium pay on Sundays, annual increments and an excellent pension scheme. Oh
and the company made a profit. But now it seems that some graduates, school leavers
and even mature adults are expected to work for nothing. So what has changed? Are
today's young people less well-educated and less employable than my
generation? That's
certainly not the message that the Irish Government promotes overseas when it is trying to attract foreign investment.
The most frightening part of this is wondering how far the no-pay culture will be extended? For now, it is just interns, but who will be next?
Like you I couldn't imagine working unpaid unless in my voluntary capacity. I know money shouldn't matter for motivation but despite what people say it's an important factor. I'm shocked that there are hard-working people who aren't being paid whilst I clearly saw a bunch of job-dodgers enjoying a few pints at just gone 11am (!) this morning sat outside the pub. Don't shoot me... I don't like to judge but I bet it was benefits they were spending!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant post. I'm also very concerned about the exploitation of unpaid labour. Having done voluntary work for a number of years I think it is starting to become undervalued because of the increasing exploitation of unpaid workers. I have actually experienced an oganisation using voluntary staff when they know they should be paying for their services. I've been in the position where I've refused a voluntary position only to be offered it as a paid role! When people get to wise to this sort of behaviour, I just think this will undermine the good naturedness of voluntary work.
ReplyDeleteI had to work as an intern to finish my Masters but it was paid. I did not look twice at the one's that were not. Granted the money was nominal and it was the experience I was after but if you're working you should be getting something, no matter how small.
ReplyDeleteMy son worked for a year in between degrees as an intern and certainly got paid. It's a disgrace, even in this economic climate, and this is someone who has been an employer, and whose husband is an employer.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine working for nothing in this way. I know it helps them up the ladder, sometimes, but they do deserve to get paid.
ReplyDelete@SAHMlovingit - Thanks for your comment. I suppose I wasn't thinking so much about motivation but more about the opportunity to earn a living, which is not available to an unpaid intern.
ReplyDelete@Deb - Ooh thank you :) I think you have a point there that the line between voluntary work and paid work is also being blurred in the not-for-profit sector: I help out a charity from time to time for free and some of the people there are paid. But it is not a 'job' that I do: they do not demand anything from me.
@Lizbeth - Exactly.
@diney - thank you for your perspective, it's good to hear that from employers.
@Madame DeFarge - I suppose I'm wondering how often it really helps them up the ladder.
I always say about this subject: I'll do voluntary work for MS if that stands for Multiple Sclerosis - but not if it means Microsoft.
ReplyDelete@Matthew Smith - I like it :)
ReplyDeleteThanks also to all the people who commented on Facebook, Twitter and by email : I'm really glad you liked this post xx