That's OK, I Am Sure They Are Gaining All the Business Skills They Need in Their Ecuadoran Gender Studies Class
Our government's plan to make sure that all young people are unemployed and have no ability to develop vital job skills continues to proceed:
Unpaid internships have long been a path of opportunity for students and recent grads looking to get a foot in the door in the entertainment, publishing and other prominent industries, even if it takes a generous subsidy from Mom and Dad. But those days of working for free could be numbered after a federal judge in New York ruled this week that Fox Searchlight Pictures violated minimum wage and overtime laws by not paying interns who worked on production of the 2010 movie "Black Swan."
A few thoughts:
- It has always amazed me that Progressives, who are the most likely to argue that money isn't everything, simply insist on ignoring non-monetary benefits of jobs. Jobs offer money, yes, but can also teach vital skills and benefits which can dwarf the monetary component for some. The skills taught in an internship can be sophisticated -- e.g. how to produce a radio broadcast -- or prosaic -- e.g. how to show up on time and work with others, but they have real value to young people. I know there are jobs my 19-year-old would take for free to gain experience and/or break into a particular industry. Jobs can also offer people of all ages intellectual or physical challenges. I have many people in the 70's who work for me merely to stay active, meet new people, and enjoy the outdoors.
- There will still be one place to still get unpaid internships -- Congress, since they exempt themselves from these laws.
- I am always simply amazed at people who accept an employment deal -- in this case exchanging their labor for experience but no money -- and then go to court because the deal was, err, exactly what they were led to expect. This reminds me of people who buy a home next to the airport because it is cheap and then sue over the noise.
