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The War on Interns

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    Author Steven Greenhouse and Hannah Jackman of the National Journalism Center debate the use of interns.

  • Duration 8:44
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This transcript is automatically generated

I -- studio audience is filled with relatively young people keenly because most are in -- some work here at fox some work elsewhere in New York.

Internships have become increasingly common in American today about half of college students do some kind of internship.

So way for young people the builder -- -- try work out.

Also way for companies to try -- workers' outlook and for companies to get some work done cheap.

Which raises the question how many have you interns are paid and I'm talking real wages here not you know ten dollars a day or some like that.

How many he get pay.

No -- it OK so aren't you being ripped off by these companies exploited.

You think you are.

-- -- -- The -- we'll show audience well the Obama Labor Department says they are explored.

Not long ago -- issued a fact sheet says free entry ships are only -- if the employer derives no immediate advantage from the -- Who lack put an employer than want an end here.

Also the administration says it's better for the business if its operations may actually be impeded.

By the -- Indicating may what's the point -- that I had an intern like that one -- we agreed to part company.

I think internships are great I used in terms all my career they've done some of my best racer some went on to be journalists themselves.

But lots of people say that it's about time the Labor Department started punishing companies that employ unpaid interns.

Steve green house says that he wrote the big squeeze tough times for the American worker.

-- Jackman of the national journalism center help students find internships and she says that their great pay here but.

Stephen you save most internships cause problems what do you me.

Now are written articles from my paper -- time saying.

Experts say that many in turn ships cause problems and that and that's.

You know the Labor Department not to -- -- our administration but going back.

Decades.

Has rules has six criteria for -- -- -- it's ever been enforced really -- an and that of our administration millions and enforcing them either for the most part put hence the only witness the audience and and I was wondering why no one raised their hand because employer would have said how how dare you say -- I'm breaking the law by not Pena.

The -- to -- to be.

For the benefit on with the sole benefit of the intern that it cannot be as you said John for the immediate benefit of the employer the -- I mean it SI for what the law what the lawyers have worked out as a reporter.

Mean what's wrong with benefiting if it's win win.

It it's win win in many ways but there are people who would -- -- with unemployment so high.

Many people are saying.

While it would be great if employers instead of taking on all of these Smart young people.

Without paying them they would hire people and pay them if it work for unpaid -- -- that that replaces paying work.

So in -- -- this front page story few weeks ago John where I guy a if you really were at a place -- guest -- -- certain.

LA for about a graduate of good college and and and New York.

And she was looking for job in the fashioned street got a job with one of the nation's most famous fashion houses she said she -- basically from 9 AM to 9 PM.

Sometimes they want her work weekends she -- paid at all.

She put -- in the educational she said a lot of the time she total her thumbs she went on got lunch for people see you and Aaron says she had a lousy time she couldn't quit.

She's not a -- that that is absolutely true but you know.

We believe that company should follow the rules that's a good conservative notion company should not break the law.

And the -- don't -- well very -- said Chandra invention of the world that people and companies should lobby of the labour department to change the rules.

-- -- let's please you weigh in here you help students find internships.

So.

They -- -- -- place our interns in media organizations in Washington DC.

And I can't say enough to be adamant.

They are incredible opportunities for students to learn what they want to do what their lives incredible opportunities for networking.

Incredible opportunities for learning how to be a grown up young professional.

It's and if we force companies.

Great for the students but it's hurting he says it's hurting the paid workers.

I don't see how that's possible a lot of these attorneys do this sort of work than it -- is not what a full time employee would do but -- -- menial things so it's not as if he's interns are there in lieu of full time employees.

Steve I recently interviewed one billionaire.

He's created lots of jobs -- he's upset about this Labor Department crackdown Mark -- now owns the Dallas Mavericks.

Says he can't believe he's not allowed to give work to.

-- -- -- -- -- I get personal emails every day 51020.

More sometimes -- It be my dream job to intern for the -- map to be my dream job to work in any capacity.

Unpaid as a matter fact mark I'll pay you to let -- work for you and so I which -- human resources persons two years ago.

I have some projects -- to really put these guys to work for.

And he says can do it's just absolutely ridiculous -- -- these are kids who might have invented something cool they don't get the opportunity.

They could.

If if if mr.

Cuban who I think -- have a few extra cents to pay -- interns.

If he did pay -- pay -- they could still be as creative inventive and then go on to exercise.

Great things but he chooses not to pay people to just take a -- these kids want to work for nothing for the experience but unpaid intern -- its favour wealthier kids from families who have connections.

And a lot of you if your family enough delegates are -- LA I look at the Saudi as they look pretty prosperous to -- and and you if if -- -- -- 500000 dollars a year maybe they can afford to have their son or daughter worked in New York City -- an unpaid internship in the summer paid.

15100 dollars a month -- But if a family can't -- -- -- (%expletive) out -- -- chaos and there's certainly.

Students son who's whose parents are willing to support them as they go to that another city and do an unpaid -- -- I'm however there are also kids -- -- like me who worked to put themselves through college -- who put away money while they were in college.

And took those savings and forehead -- -- into.

An opportunity to -- unpaid internship to -- -- because some students have the advantage of parental support.

That we should not allow any an -- -- opportunities -- all I'm I think is is robbing young people of an opportunity to to followed their.

Dreams and our careers.

A lot of -- -- said the main point -- learned much more working for you -- and college.

It could order to pay you what this is much better let me ask you -- how many have you.

Look earned more in -- -- -- and hitting college.

So that doesn't say much for college but it sounds like an unpaid internship.

Is a great deal.

-- I'm not denying that -- paid internships can often be very education.

Again you know if someone at -- we are -- -- society -- -- -- -- follow rules set forth by various levels of government.

And and -- it says here any official Labor Department rules.

If the interns are engaged in the operation of the employer or performing productive work for example filing the -- -- -- clerical work how many if you do that.

Or assisting customers -- the fact that they need be receiving some benefits.

In the form of a new skill or improve work habits when not exclude them from the requirement that -- be paid.

Now one might say the laws and -- -- that's been said before there I'm not even sure what that loss satellite -- laws.

Nobody outside that I could I -- many laws and we should have a right of contract and -- secure their workplace correspondent for the near times the New York Times loves more laws that less freedom and I opinion.

Below we love freedom -- free we have freedom of speech to -- freedom religion we're we're big believers in freedom but not freedom of contract in the workplace.

We we believe in freedom can't imagine -- -- employers -- wa -- city court of the United States.

You know chosen by a duly elected president years ago.

Set forth these rules for how the workplace should be governed until they're changed by the Labor Department -- Supreme Court -- of the rules were supposed to file.

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