ASK HR: A company that takes advantage of its interns isn’t a good employer
This is the eighth month, and though I am given assignments like the employees here, I don’t get any form of remuneration, not even bus fare or lunch, nor have I been promised employment. PHOTO| FILE| NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- A standard policy would state the duration of stay and stipends to be paid to compensate for minor out of pocket expenses such as the ones you state.
- The good outcome is that your CV has eight months’ experience that should get you a job that will value your skills and contributions.
- I have in fact come across situations where interns are more productive than regular employees and seen other cases where regular employees push most of their work to interns who are eager to learn.
Q. I graduated from college in February this year and was happy to get internship at a reputable company. A relative, who knows the Managing Director of this company got me the internship. I wasn’t informed how long it would last, and I didn’t ask. This is the eighth month, and though I am given assignments like the employees here, I don’t get any form of remuneration, not even bus fare or lunch, nor have I been promised employment. I feel taken advantage of. What should I do?
The genesis of your problems is your unprofessional entry to the company. This is not about how you were referred, rather, about how you got in and started work without any documentation. If this is a reputable company as you state, it is most likely they have an internship policy which guides recruitment and management of all interns.
A standard policy would state the duration of stay and stipends to be paid to compensate for minor out of pocket expenses such as the ones you state.
Instead of suffering in silence, you need to raise this with the HR office or the managing director, who is familiar with your case. Appreciate the opportunity you have been given to learn, but at the same time, given that you perform similar tasks to other employees who are salaried, explain how unfair this is.
Also find out if there other interns in a similar situation and raise your case together to have a stronger voice. What is clear though, is that this company takes advantage of its interns and clearly is not a good employer. The good outcome is that your CV has eight months’ experience that should get you a job that will value your skills and contributions. But do not leave just yet, it is easier to move jobs when you are working than when unemployed.
The fact that we lack a law that regulates internships does not mean employers should take advantage of interns. I have in fact come across situations where interns are more productive than regular employees and seen other cases where regular employees push most of their work to interns who are eager to learn.
Failure to be fair in such placements will for sure affect productivity and overall business performance. If the organisation cannot afford to pay any stipend, it is best to restrict the internship to a shorter period.
