Intern nation : how to earn nothing and learn little in the brave new economy

Interns. They famously shuttle coffee in a thousand newsrooms, MPs’ offices, and film sets, but they also deliver aid in Afghanistan, design high-end fashions, and build the human genome. They are of all ages, and their numbers are growing fast in an increasingly bleak economic landscape for young people. A huge and increasing number of internships are illegal under minimum wage law and this mass exploitation saves companies millions each year. Interns enjoy no workplace protections and no standing in courts of law—let alone luxuries such as a living wage.Ross Perlin, a self-confessed intern survivor, has written the first exposé of the brave new world of unpaid work. In this witty, astonishing, and serious investigative work, Perlin takes the reader inside both boutique nonprofits and megacorporations such as Disney. He unmasks a grotesque internship industry where coveted, unpaid placements are auctioned off and universities are complicit in exploiting student labour. He profiles fellow interns, talks to historians about what unleashed this phenomenon, and explains why the intern boom is perverting workplace practices in locations all around the world.Thought-provoking, insightful, and humorous, Intern Nation is an urgent call to overturn the latest racket in unpaid work. Traces The Increase In Interns In Businesses From The Late Twentieth To The Early Twenty First Century And Discusses The Lack Of Benefits And Legal Securities Granted To Interns In Comparison To The Profits Firms Bank By Exploiting Their Roles In The Workplace. Every Year, Between 1 And 2 Million Americans Work As Interns. They Famously Shuttle Coffee In A Thousand Newsrooms, Congressional Offices, And Hollywood Studios, But They Also Deliver Aid In Afghanistan, Build The Human Genome, And Pick Up Garbage. They Are Increasingly Of All Ages, And Their Numbers Are Growing Fast--from 17 Percent Of College Graduates In 1992 To 50 Percent In 2008. A Huge And Increasing Number Of Internships Are Illegal Under The Fair Labor Standards Act, And This Mass Exploitation Saves Firms More Than $600 Million Each Year. Interns Enjoy No Workplace Protections And No Standing In Courts Of Law--let Alone Benefits Like Healthcare. Ross Perlin Has Written The First Exposé Of This World Of Drudgery And Aspiration. In This Witty, Astonishing, And Serious Investigative Work, Perlin Takes The Reader Inside Both Boutique Nonprofits And Megacorporations Such As Disney (which Employs 8,000 Interns At Disney World Alone). He Profiles Fellow Interns, Talks To Historians About What Unleashed This Phenomenon, And Explains Why The Intern Boom Is Perverting Workplace Practices In Locations All Around The World. The Happiest Interns In The World -- The Explosion -- Learning From Apprenticeships -- A Lawsuit Waiting To Happen -- Cheerleaders On Campus -- No Fee For Service -- The Economics Of Internships -- Futures Market -- What About Everybody Else? -- The Rise And Rebellion Of The Global Intern -- Nothing To Lose But Your Cubicles -- The Intern Bill Of Rights -- Internships And The Law. Ross Perlin. Includes Biographical References (p. [225]-238) And Index. Interns. They famously shuttle coffee in a thousand newsrooms, MPs offices, and film sets, but they also deliver aid in Afghanistan, design high-end fashions, and build the human genome. They are of all ages, and their numbers are growing fast in an increasingly bleak economic landscape for young people. A huge and increasing number of internships are illegal under minimum wage law and this mass exploitation saves companies millions each year. Interns enjoy no workplace protections and no standing in courts of lawlet alone luxuries such as a living wage. Ross Perlin, a self-confessed intern survivor, has written the first expos of the brave new world of unpaid work. In this witty, astonishing, and serious investigative work, Perlin takes the reader inside both boutique nonprofits and megacorporations such as Disney. He unmasks a grotesque internship industry where coveted, unpaid placements are auctioned off and universities are complicit in exploiting student labour. He profiles fellow interns, talks to historians about what unleashed this phenomenon, and explains why the intern boom is perverting workplace practices in locations all around the world. Thought-provoking, insightful, and humorous, Intern Nation is an urgent call to overturn the latest racket in unpaid work. An exposé of the world of internships. Perlin takes the reader inside boutique non-profits and megacorporations and explains why six states and several European countries are debating legislation meant to rein in the intern boom