Free Is Better, But Is It Right?

College internships are a good thing. Students learn what the real world of business is all about.

In most cases the interns aren’t paid. In fact, in most cases they’re working for free and paying their college/university for the credits they’ll receive. It’s a bit of a scam in that regard.

College internships are a good thing. Students learn what the real world of business is all about.

In most cases the interns aren’t paid. In fact, in most cases they’re working for free and paying their college/university for the credits they’ll receive. It’s a bit of a scam in that regard.

Some businesses use free interns instead of paid employees. That’s wrong.

Here’s a typical intern tale of woe from John Stossel as reported by Mediaite.

“The Labor Department says if you don’t pay an intern – if you get a college student and you don’t pay them – that’s exploitation,” said Stossel. “And that’s how I’ve gotten half of the research done in my career because we couldn’t afford to pay researchers.”

What Stossel is saying is ABC and now Fox News “couldn’t afford to pay researchers.” May I call BS on this?

For employers free is better than paid, but is it right?