Employers are breaking the law by not paying interns, says report
COMPANIES that take on unpaid interns are almost certainly breaking the law, according to a new study.
The report, created by think-tank the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and campaign group Internocracy, says there is a mistaken belief that if both the company and the employee understand the position is voluntary they do not have to pay a wage. but this is not true.
Kayte Lawton, research fellow at the IPPR, said: “If an intern is doing work for a company, then they need to be paid, it’s as simple as that.”
The report also warned that the current situation could leave employers open to claims at employment tribunals by current and former interns to compensation, and employers could be liable for up to six years worth of back payments.