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Sunshine55 · 12/11/2014 09:40
Am I being unreasonable to think that unpaid internships should be banned. It seems a lot of companies just use this as an excuse for unpaid workers and once their contract has finished they get someone else in for unpaid work its just not fair.
JustineMumsnet · 12/11/2014 15:08
Interesting thread and I agree with the OP, I think internships should be paid.
Mumsnet/ Gransent usually has about 5 interns at any one time (on 6 month internships) in a staff of around 85. They are paid around £1k a month plus we pay NI.
Of the interns we've had since we started the scheme about two years ago I'd say we've hired at least 50% with the majority of others going on to fully paid jobs. I do genuinely believe it works brilliantly for the candidates to get a rung on the ladder/ test out a career and it certainly works well for us - it's like an extended job interview.
It's certainly also popular as we have huge numbers of applicants for each post.
Do let me know if you want any more info.
JustineMumsnet · 12/11/2014 15:38
@PausingFlatly
It would help pick apart what is going on in this field.
Certainly - it's because they usually are across a number of areas - so an intern might spend some time on bloggers network and some time on the community desk. The idea is that they get some experience of the industry to see if it's for them.
We might then offer an intern a job, possibly into an entirely different area - the benefit for us is that we've had time to get to know them and see their qualities - and hopefully they've been able to get a handle on whether it's the right fit for them too.
Obviously we don't only hire interns though - we hire graduates and non-grads into full and part time roles as well. To be honest whether we hire interns or not I think it's a great opportunity for them to get a foot on the career ladder in this very competitive jobs market we're in.
JustineMumsnet · 13/11/2014 11:36
@LePetitMarseillais
£1k a month for a MN internship.Surely that would barely cover rent and travel in London.
Only the rich could afford to support their children whilst they did it.
Utterly unfair leg up.They need to go.
No I don't think that's right - from what I can see our interns are mostly not supported by parents but live communally in a kind of studenty (but not so grimy) set up with 4 or so to a flat/house. I really don't think they feel exploited - they feel like it's an opportunity.
JustineMumsnet · 13/11/2014 11:38
Are interns employees? On short term contracts and protected by employment regs (not that those are much for short termers)?
Or are they volunteers who are paid pocket money?
Or... what?
As you can see from the exchange with Ofa, there is no definition of intern - and the ambiguity offers socially acceptable cover for businesses which do wish to exploit workers.
As far as we're concerned their rights are no different to any other employee on a 6 month contract.
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