With summer just around the corner, many workforces are already beginning to see the seasonal swell that comes with the inevitable intern influx.
For many employers, however, the initiation of internship initiatives has a somewhat more sinister side, as some of the world’s biggest brands gamble millions of dollars on unpaid internships, a practice that represents a significant compliance issue that many organizations wantonly ignore, despite the obvious risks involved in this endemic practice.
But be warned: if your company maintains an unpaid internship program, you’re playing with fire. And this year, more than ever, you’re likely to get burned.
The crackdown on unpaid or underpaid internships has significantly escalated over the past few summers – and even organizations with the most sophisticated HR functions have found themselves caught in the non-compliance net.