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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think interns should at least receive travelling expenses?

31 replies

GettinTrimmer · 15/02/2011 18:19

My niece is commuting to London from Sussex every day for her internship working for the fasion industry.

They have made it clear she is not part of their team - they ignore her apart from telling her what to do - and have her running about all over London returning items, etc.

She gets nothing and saves them hours of work, I know internships are ways of getting into some industries such as publishing, journalism, etc, but they should at least refund her travelling expenses Sad

OP posts:
NotSuchASmugMarriedNow · 15/02/2011 18:21

I agree they should pay expenses but as they don't I can only assume that this is a ploy to keep poor people out of their industry.

TheArmadillo · 15/02/2011 18:22

I don't think internships should be allowed fullstop. Apprenticeships yes, internships no. They give the rich even more advantage over the poor.

Milliways · 15/02/2011 18:23

That is awful! :(

My DD has an Easter Internship and will get £50pw but will have to sort accommodation/food - but hopes to stay with an existing employee (they often offer).

They shouldn;t pay her daily commute fee - most people have to cover this or accomodation, but travel FOR work around London should be covered, and you think a small allowance would be paid.

Original poster
GettinTrimmer · 15/02/2011 18:25

Yes, agree they are only for those with parents who can afford it, no chance of getting into publishing for example unless mum and dad have well paid jobs, my niece is lucky but my sister won't be able to finance her indefinitely.

OP posts:
lurkerspeaks · 15/02/2011 18:25

To clarify - do you mean travelling expenses to get to the internship or do you mean travelling expenses for the running around she does?

Original poster
GettinTrimmer · 15/02/2011 18:26

They pay her expenses for running around London for them but not for her commute from Sussex.

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Original poster
GettinTrimmer · 15/02/2011 18:27

My sister bought her a season ticket that was a few hundred quid.

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Blondeshavemorefun · 15/02/2011 18:29

hmm tricky

i dont get paid travelling exspenses to go to work, and not many people i know do either

think she is going to have to suck it and treat it as a means to an end iyswim

earthworm · 15/02/2011 18:30

This was addressed recently in a BBC2 programme called something like Who Gets All the Jobs.

All those interviewed agreed that it does definitely favour those with wealthy parents, and that it is an unfair system, but that nothing will change because those industries that rely on interns receive thousands of applications - they don't have to pay travelling expenses to attract applicants, so why would they?

earthworm · 15/02/2011 18:31

Just checked bbc iplayer - it's called Who Gets the Best Jobs and will be there for the next 14 hours if anyone is interested.

A bit of an eye opener, actually.

FabbyChic · 15/02/2011 18:32

Why should they? Interns get X amount of money generally the January before their internship. My son did £1k the first year for travelling expenses and relocation he was at Warwick and worked in London. The second year he got £2k relocation and travelling.

They assume you will live in London during your internship.

If she got nothing, she got the wrong internship.

Waswondering · 15/02/2011 18:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FabbyChic · 15/02/2011 18:33

Sorry as an aside they do get paid so why can't they pay their own fares.

Original poster
GettinTrimmer · 15/02/2011 18:35

I know Blondes, I hope it pays off for her, but when you think of all the free hours of work it just seems wrong to me.

I did see that programme Earthworm, the girl working for free (was it in fashion?) had given up and was trying another internship in publishing.

The bloke working for the independent didn't get anywhere when he asked to be paid for the articles of his they published.

OP posts:
Original poster
GettinTrimmer · 15/02/2011 18:37

waswondering she organised it herself, her friend did an internship there last year.

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FabbyChic · 15/02/2011 18:38

Sorry! Should have read she does not get a wage.

Thats awful! So agree if no wage she should get her fares paid.

Sorry again Gettin.

Original poster
GettinTrimmer · 15/02/2011 18:42

That alright fabby will your ds have a good chance of getting a job in his chosen field after the internship?

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Jellykat · 15/02/2011 18:53

I agree GT, my DS1 has started applying for internships for when he leaves college this Summer.

How the hell will we fund it?

Even if he does get travel expenses,i am a lone parent on Tax Credits,there's his rent etc to cover.. Confused

earthworm · 15/02/2011 18:56

Yes, I think the girl did work in fashion GettinTrimmer.

I seem to remember that they also interviewed her boss and he agreed that the system favoured those with wealthy parents and those already living in London, but then looked genuinely baffled when invited to consider paying a minimum wage.

Mind you, he was employing about 70 interns so any wage would detrimentally impact his business I suppose.

Original poster
GettinTrimmer · 15/02/2011 18:57

I know it won't happen but I think they should have to pay the minimum wage. jelly will your ds be able to work part time or will there be no time for that if he has to work long hours as an intern?

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Original poster
GettinTrimmer · 15/02/2011 18:59

x-posted earthworm! I seem to remember her boss saying he hadn't even given the issue any thought.

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Jellykat · 15/02/2011 19:29

GT - I guess it will depend entirely on what he manages to get. It is Music Industry related,and i know a lot of stuff he does now includes going to gigs/networking and DJing in the evenings.As well as the day to day stuff of sound production,digital mixing etc.

Sounds crazy but it's a lot of learning, and more predominantly who you know-so really he needs to be out and about 'networking' too.

When i was at college(fashion),we did our work experience in the third year(whilst still funded by our term time grants) with designers/companies who sponsored our collections, and about a third went to on work for our sponsors..

A much better way of doing it IMO

RamblingRosa · 15/02/2011 19:34

Interns are entitled to the minimum wage. If they're not getting it, you should report the company to HMRC. They have a minimum wage enforcement helpline. The employer will be made to cough up. Your niece could claim back pay from the day she started with them.

There was a thread about interns yesterday and I pointed to this website. Tell your niece to have a look.

FabbyChic · 15/02/2011 19:38

Gettintrimmer, he already has a job in his chosen field, he got offered one after he finished his last internship.

But its a totally different field.

ajandjjmum · 15/02/2011 19:41

It depends how long the internships are for. If it's for a matter of weeks and will enhance the dc's cv, then it's worth the investment. If it's for months and they are doing a 'proper' job, they should be paid for it.

If employers had to pay, then probably a lot of dc would lose the opportunity of getting this work experience, which would be a shame.