Employers need to avoid commercial disputes with interns

Published on 9 Aug 2010 under category: legal

Employers who fail to comply with regulations when it comes to interns could find themselves involved in commercial disputes.

A report from the Institute for Public Policy Research and the campaign group Internocracy found that many employers are breaking the law.

Many believe that they do not have to pay interns if there is a mutual understanding that it is a voluntary position.

In addition, the nature of the work in some internships is unlikely to benefit careers.

Dan Hawes, co-founder of the Graduate Recruitment Bureau, said: "A lot of companies are seeing that there are loads of graduates in the market place and thinking they can take someone on for nothing, with no promise of a job at the end of it.

"Most proper internships have a period of work where you are getting involved in different areas and then at the end of the program there is a position for you."

However, he added that more firms needed to become aware of the implications of breaking the law.

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