Why unpaid internships make sense for all parties

PR firms’ obligation to its clients makes a trial period necessary

The Labor Department has launched a scare campaign to goad for-profit employers into compensating their interns. Yet, this “pay them or else” message may backfire, driving companies like mine—Strategic Communications Group—to simply kill their long-standing internship programs.

The U.S. Labor Department has clearly articulated its dour view of the unpaid internship in The New York Times and Time magazine.

Nancy Leppink, acting director of Labor’s wage and hour division told the Times’ Steven Greenhouse, “If you’re a for-profit employer or you want to pursue an internship, there aren’t going to be many circumstances where you can have an internship and not be paid and still be in compliance with the law.”