I’d like to announce that Josh’s Water Jobs will no longer post unpaid internships on the platform. We have never had interns ourselves, but believe that in posting unpaid internships we are reinforcing the inequities that they propagate, so will stop the practice.
There are many campaigns and resources online for why interns should be paid, but here is our justification:
- Improve diversity and inclusion: Unpaid internships can be a barrier to entry for students from lower-income backgrounds, as they may not have the financial resources to support themselves while working for free. This can lead to a lack of diversity within the organization, as well as missed opportunities to bring in talented individuals from different backgrounds. By offering paid internships, you can help ensure that all students have access to the same opportunities, regardless of their financial circumstances.
- Fair compensation: Interns are typically expected to work alongside other employees and may even perform similar tasks, so it is only fair that they receive some form of compensation for their work. Additionally, many interns have student loan debt and other financial obligations, so a paid internship can help alleviate some of that burden and allow them to focus on their work.
- Attract top talent: Paid internships can be more attractive to top talent because they offer a tangible benefit that unpaid internships do not. Students and recent graduates are often looking for opportunities that will help them gain practical experience and build their resumes, but they also need to support themselves financially. By offering a paid internship, you increase the pool of candidates who are interested in working for your organization.
- Increase retention: If interns are paid fairly and feel valued, they are more likely to stay with your organization after their internship ends. This can be beneficial for both parties, as the intern has already been trained and acclimated to the work environment, and the organization can benefit from having a skilled and familiar employee on board.
Hopefully those who are lagging, and I’m looking at you in particular, United Nations, can get on board.
Josh
