Yeah, I'm gonna keep this dog-shaped eraser

Oh, phew! I've had a few interns over the years and, even though I'm happy to take them under my wing and try to train them, it's always a huge pain in the butt. I didn't know about these guidelines but I accidentally abided buy them.

I think the problem is that people ‘know’ that unpaid internships are morally wrong but they don’t know that they’re likely illegal in many circumstances. Unpaid interns have rights that they’re unaware of and get taken advantage of as a result. I would look at it more like you being an ignorant immigrant and I tell you ‘in order for you to get a job and live in a home, you’re going to have to give me your stuff so just sign here saying you agree, I’ll take your nicest things, and soon you’ll be able to have a nice job and your own flat.’ I just stole all of your stuff. I knew it was wrong. But you didn’t know the law. And now I get the best of what you have while you’re left with nothing to show for it. I want the people working unpaid internships to know their protections because of this.

I would agree whole heartedly that the principal of taking advantage of someone who doesn’t know better is wrong, and am not arguing that unpaod internships are right. But my point is still valid to the example above. The person is going to their “job” and committing a crime. If they do not know theor employer has commuted a crime, but know it is “wrong,” what justification do they have? If they know theor employer has commuted a crime, how does petty theft make that up, or protect the next person after them? It’s pointless and cowardly. It takes courage- but even if you don’t know it’s illegal but know it is wrong- say “no,” or when you get to the point that you are so sure it’s wrong you would steal as “revenge,” tell your employer it is wrong. Write to the legislature, start a union of interns. But those things are hard, they take courage, work, and character, and may actually benefit you and those who come after. It’s much easier to be a petulant child, steal so you feel “avenged”

And then quit so the next person can fall into the same trap. And there is what is wrong with these companies. Those interns agreed to prostitute theor skills because it dangles the possibility of doves and comfort in a future career before them. They sold themselves out and whoever comes next, and will leave when they find a better job- probably with a “see you later suckers, I got a REAL job! Ha!” And the wheel turns. Let’s flip it around. If the same company offered that person a position that paid millions, but it was doing things they felt or knew were wrong, would they take it? Would they feel the need to steal? Would they be exploited because the company knew their morals could be bought? Because why are they unpaid interns? They are hoping to gain an in to a career they hope will pay and take care of them. The fact they do t have the power (yet) to cause a mortgage crisis is imaterial because the motivation is the same, they just are banking on getting a payoff later than then.

Tl:dr- wether you’re old or young, intern or CEO- do the world a favor, and if you have any character, do yourself justice. It doesn’t matter if something is illegal or not. If you feel it is wrong- don’t do it regardless of the potential payoff. Don’t do it unless the consequences of not doing it are worth more than your principals, and if you decide the trade is worth your principals- don’t complain about it. There’s always a choice and you made yours. That doesn’t apply to people being “fleeced” who have no idea that something is wrong or illegal, those people by default wouldn’t even think to steal from their work to get pay back because as you Daya they don’t know anything is wrong.