Regular readers of this blog will be aware of numerous posts I have written about unpaid internships in the UK. This feature of modern day working is something we imported from the USA. In my opinion, it is not one of the better imports.
The New York Times has published the following story:
‘Charlie Rose’ Show Agrees to Pay Up to $250,000 to Settle Interns’ Lawsuit
Charlie Rose and his production company have agreed to pay as much as $250,000 to settle a class-action lawsuit brought by a former unpaid intern who claimed minimum wage violations.
Under the settlement, Mr. Rose and his production company, Charlie Rose Inc., will pay back wages to a potential class of 189 interns. The settlement calls for the interns to receive generally $1,100 each — $110 a week in back pay, up to a maximum of 10 weeks, the approximate length of a school semester.
Because it is a settlement no legal precedent has been set, but perhaps other companies that use unpaid interns will take note.
Hat Tip: Gene
And another story on unpaid internships – this one from the UK.
Readers who have not seen it might be interested in Guido Fawkes’ blog post ridiculing the New Statesman for auctioning off an unpaid internship for over £1,000. He is right to point out the hypocrisy given the magazine had published articles from two of its own journalists where others were criticised for doing precisely the same thing.