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Why is circumventing minimum wage laws a bad thing? If you don't have the skills to be paid $9/hr (or whatever it is nowadays), then unpaid internships are awes

Why is circumventing minimum wage laws a bad thing? If you don't have the skills to be paid $9/hr (or whatever it is nowadays), then unpaid internships are awesome, because they help you get there. How about this idea: let people offer unpaid internships, and let potential employees willingly decide for themselves, based on their own circumstances and free will, whether or not to take them. I don't see any harm in two human's voluntary reaching an internship agreement if they both benefit from it.

rmrfrmrf 13y ago
My problem is more with employers who demand that potential employees "pay their dues" before being allowed into an industry. It favors privileged people who can be supported by some other person while they're working for free. Also, requiring interns to work 40 hour work weeks for nothing is downright sadistic. At least have the decency to allow your interns to work a second job.
jiggy2011 13y ago
Because those who might benefit most from unpaid internships are often those from disadvantaged groups and the lower classes seeking social mobility. But doing an unpaid internship necessarily demands an external source of money to cover living expenses. So there are many people who would in theory be happy to do an unpaid internship but are unable to do so practically.
- jdreaver 13y ago
  > So there are many people who would in theory be happy to do an unpaid internship but are unable to do so practically. Indeed. However, there are yet others who would benefit and can do so practically. The fact that they exist and positions get filled means people are getting experience and making ends meet. By forcing the minimum wage on these internships, they don't reappear with a higher wage, most of them simply disappear. The opportunity is totally lost.
  - jiggy2011 13y ago
    Assuming that the demand for real jobs in the sectors that are hiring interns remains constant without the unpaid internships then this might in fact be a good thing. An opportunity that is only realistically available to those from more affluent backgrounds (who already have a bunch more advantages) actually translates into a disadvantage for those who are unable to take them, so it is somewhat a zero sum game. Especially if they become a defacto requirement for the best jobs in some sectors.
kyllo 13y ago
How about this idea: why don't we just let affluent young people buy jobs?
gte910h 13y ago
Because minimum wage laws are regressive, giving even GREATER opportunities to the rich.
- gte910h 13y ago
  s/minimum wage laws/unpaid internships/g

rmrfrmrf 13y ago

My problem is more with employers who demand that potential employees "pay their dues" before being allowed into an industry. It favors privileged people who can be supported by some other person while they're working for free. Also, requiring interns to work 40 hour work weeks for nothing is downright sadistic. At least have the decency to allow your interns to work a second job.

jiggy2011 13y ago

Because those who might benefit most from unpaid internships are often those from disadvantaged groups and the lower classes seeking social mobility. But doing an unpaid internship necessarily demands an external source of money to cover living expenses. So there are many people who would in theory be happy to do an unpaid internship but are unable to do so practically.

jdreaver 13y ago
> So there are many people who would in theory be happy to do an unpaid internship but are unable to do so practically. Indeed. However, there are yet others who would benefit and can do so practically. The fact that they exist and positions get filled means people are getting experience and making ends meet. By forcing the minimum wage on these internships, they don't reappear with a higher wage, most of them simply disappear. The opportunity is totally lost.
- jiggy2011 13y ago
  Assuming that the demand for real jobs in the sectors that are hiring interns remains constant without the unpaid internships then this might in fact be a good thing. An opportunity that is only realistically available to those from more affluent backgrounds (who already have a bunch more advantages) actually translates into a disadvantage for those who are unable to take them, so it is somewhat a zero sum game. Especially if they become a defacto requirement for the best jobs in some sectors.

kyllo 13y ago

How about this idea: why don't we just let affluent young people buy jobs?

gte910h 13y ago

Because minimum wage laws are regressive, giving even GREATER opportunities to the rich.

gte910h 13y ago
s/minimum wage laws/unpaid internships/g