3 ms·

Unpaid intern solutions

• brudgers 9y ago
  In a reasonably savvy startup, equity is distributed as options with a vesting schedule that is extended over several years because the value of granting equity to employees is to better align interests over periods longer than from one paycheck to the next. Providing equity to interns is not obviously consistent with this approach. On the other hand, since most equity is worth $0 granting equity to interns is roughly consistent with the practices of companies that don't pay interns. Generally, the problem of unpaid internships stem from companies where the culture is such that it is ethically acceptable to not pay interns and (and to a much much smaller degree) from interns who are willing to work without pay. Good luck.