Unpaid interns file lawsuits against companies based in Hollywood

Unpaid interns in Hollywood have filed class action lawsuits against employers such as Fox Searchlight, the Hearst Corporation and the "Charlie Rose" show, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The plaintiffs are seeking back wages despite the fact that they were interning for unpaid positions.

However, regulations instituted at the the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and California's Division of Labor Standards Enforcement require interns at for-profit companies to be paid.

"There aren't going to be many instances where you can have an internship [for a for-profit employer] and not be paid and still be in compliance with the law," Nancy Leppink, the DOL's deputy wage and hour administrator, told The New York Times.

Today, internships have become a more common way for young people to gain experience for career opportunities. Often, college students and recent graduates choose unpaid internships during a recovering economy, as many businesses may be unable to provide wages for all positions, but the entry-level positions require work experience.

What can for-profit businesses do to ensure that they follow the law but also offer unpaid internships? There are six steps to comply with when developing these positions:

1. A job is not guaranteed at the end of the internship.
2. The internship must have similarities to an educational environment and the type of training received in a school setting.
3. The intern does not replace the work of regular employees.
4. The employer gains no advantages from having the intern at their site.
5. The role solely benefits the intern.
6. When it comes to wages, the intern understands the reason for not gaining these provisions.

For-profit businesses in Arizona must follow these instructions or else risk a lawsuit. An Arizona business attorney can aid companies in their endeavour to comply with all employment regulations.

Categorised in: Uncategorized

This post was written by