The podcast that explores digital and social media tools for today’s nonprofit.
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NonProfit MissionCast 12 Final File.mp3
In today’s episode, we explore some of the kinds of jobs that are appropriate and productive for summer communications interns to engage in. NonProfits in particular can develop a win-win situation with their interns, because they need the manpower, and the interns need the practical experience. However, we also take a look at the legal implications of UNPAID internships, especially given the fact that the Dept. of Labor has given us a direct warning that they are cracking down on this practice. So beware, but be smart: listen to today’s episode, do your homework and preparation, and hire an intern on a legal basis to provide some extra manpower to your operation. As always, seek independent legal counsel to make sure you are following the letter of the law, as we are not attorneys and this podcast does not constitute legal advice.
Read more, including links:
Department of Labor on Interns, Unpaid Internships: “DOL to Crack Down on Unpaid Internships.”
http://www.ferris.edu/cob/internships/docs/pdf/Intern_Bridge_FLSA.pdf
“Designing an Internship Program”
Note: Thanks to Aaron Uhrmacher for some of the ideas about what interns can do in social media for their internships.
Well, that’s a fine how-do-you-do! I wanted to ask at the end of the post what your own experiences have been with summer interns and social media, and what your plans are perhaps for this summer… but I forgot! So, consider the question asked! Will there be an intern in the picture for your organization? What will they be doing? Are they paid or unpaid?
Thanks for doing your podcast! However, it seems the 6 points do not apply to nonprofits. Link here to the DOL web site (http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs71.htm?loc=interstitialskip#_ednref1), and then check out the footnote:
* The FLSA makes a special exception under certain circumstances for individuals who volunteer to perform services for a state or local government agency and for individuals who volunteer for humanitarian purposes for private non-profit food banks. WHD also recognizes an exception for individuals who volunteer their time, freely and without anticipation of compensation for religious, charitable, civic, or humanitarian purposes to non-profit organizations. Unpaid internships in the public sector and for non-profit charitable organizations, where the intern volunteers without expectation of compensation, are generally permissible. WHD is reviewing the need for additional guidance on internships in the public and non-profit sectors.
Mary, thanks for commenting, and yes, your points are well taken. For certain kinds of nonprofits there seem to be fewer restrictions on the use of unpaid interns when they are really functioning more as volunteers. That said, I have also read some material lately that indicates that due to current budget constraints everywhere, even nonprofits and their volunteers/interns are going to be looked at more closely to see if they should be paying their people.
Also, here is a link to a different point of view on the matter: http://www.nptimes.com/webex/09Jan/c2-1-1-09.html. I guess in these uncertain times, and with the DOL tightening up in general on exploitation of interns, if I were a nonprofit, I would try to figure out a way to give some meaningful training to my intern and even better, to work with their academic institution to try to get them academic credit for their internship. I believe that would also help the nonprofit get a higher quality individual into their program.
Thanks again for weighing in!