Backlash against unpaid internships growing in Canada, called 'exploitation'

[Tonington]

Probation. If the employee works out, they get a job. And they get paid for the work they do while they're there. Internships are being abused, no question about it. Its free labour.

 

[taxslave]

The Fairmont hotel was the first one I heard of but apparently it is happening elsewhere in restaurants that can afford to pay staff.

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

Unpaid internship in a restaurant is just exploiting the poor.

Isn't it actually exploiting the rich? I mean, how could a poor person do an unpaid internship at all?

I'd like to think that most poor folk have too much sense to work for free.

 

[captain morgan]

Probation. If the employee works out, they get a job. And they get paid for the work they do while they're there. Internships are being abused, no question about it. Its free labour.

Lots of University organized internships that are by large companies that don't need to provide that program.

 

[SLM]

In a way it is.

In all likelihood, those students wouldn't get a second look to begin with.

Maybe they shouldn't get a second look to begin with then. If a person makes poor educational choices, they have to live with that.

What this practice really says to me is that the market for hiring people in that industry is competitive and perhaps not a lot of motivation to hire a greenhorn when there are experienced individuals available.

In the beginning, I would have agreed with you wholeheartedly, but I think the problem is that this notion is trending now. So you've got industries where normally an internship really isn't warranted but they're doing it anyway. Those are the ones doing it for free labour.

The intern also has to take a proactive position and understand that the internship serves 2 general functions. Getting a little experience and also a (potential) foot in the door.

Ideally, absolutely. In our office, which admittedly is a very small workplace, we've used both paid and unpaid. But basically the unpaid are only there for a very short period of time and we're not really billing for anything they do. We've had a couple of high school students over the years who were exploring their options and looking to just experience what working in an accounting office would be like. They were all there for only one or two days a week over maybe a month or month and a half. Frankly it was more work for the paid staff as we had to find them something to do.

If the intern accepts a position for a few months and then leaves on good terms, there is a better chance of moving across the street and getting another position (paid or intern) that will allow them to expand the base of experience.

Again, ideally yes. But I think the trend is becoming to work them into the ground then move on to the next. And if all the companies are doing this, who's getting hired?

I never would have thought that a restaurant internship existed... Maybe in a higher-end place for the cooks, sous-chefs, etc.

The one that I recall seeing posted which caused a lot of flack was for busboys. I mean, c'mon, that's just too cheap to pay someone minimum wage to clean the tables.

 

[Zipperfish]

Any business entity should be required to pay staff. It's a loophole inthe labour code. It's an asymmetrical power arrangement, adn the companies will use this to their advantage. level the field.

 

[WLDB]

Probation. If the employee works out, they get a job. And they get paid for the work they do while they're there. Internships are being abused, no question about it. Its free labour.

Even with probation one gets paid. I have at any job that Ive had with the policy. Less than I was when I got off of it but still pay. Pay people with less experience less, not nothing.

Lots of University organized internships that are by large companies that don't need to provide that program.

Sure, I see nothing wrong with that as the student would get some credit for it towards their degree. Its not after graduation for nothing.

I think it's hysterical. Rich kids with advanced degrees doing grunt work for free.

No wonder the companies don't hire them after their internships. Who'd want an employee that dumb?

Never looked at it that way. Quite true.