Background
It's quite
strange how we all know there are things called laws and ethics in a certain
profession but we all not too familiar with them. I mean they are important
after all. The main challenge most of the time is that they throw all these
things in our faces and expect us to fully comprehend and remember them all.
I think its
high time for this to change. Lets rather take a few laws and ethics at a time
and discuss them or talk about them to share some ideas and understanding
around. I want to know what your thoughts are about them because this way we
will understand these laws and ethics better.
Ethics is
what is morally right or wrong. Usually as determined by standards of
profession such as public relations, organisations and individuals. We will
obviously look at them from a public relations point of view but I also feel it
will actually apply to any other profession.
Ethical
behavior is a major consideration that distinguishes the civilized from the
uncivilized in society.
Issue
Employers
value work experience when hiring. Job candidates who wish to be competitive
willingly accept unpaid positions to gain work experience. This raises
questions for both the employer and vulnerable job seekers (students).
The question
for employers is: “Does the position being offered meet the legal standard set
by federal law for an unpaid internship?” For the student, the question is,
“Can the internship be a significant career builder as opposed to just a
mindless activity that provides little or no immediate academic or work
experience?” For both parties, there are ethical questions to consider.
Guidelines
In reviewing
this issue, PRSA determined five key issues that need to be assessed to
properly understand the ethical implications and concerns regarding the use of
unpaid interns in the public relations industry.
Those issues
include: Federal law, state legislative rules, student factors, institutional factors and the public relations internship environment.
Students
everywhere must take these key issues into consideration as they embark on
their internships for years to come. What are your thoughts about this issue and guidelines?
Do you think students should be paid for their internship work or should it merely
serve as work experience?
I think they should be paid,because they contribute to the growth of the company and they work normal hours like every employee.
ReplyDeleteThat's quite valid what you are saying. Do you think the 5 key issues would help the employer see this issue the way you do and offer some sort of payment for your work?
DeleteI think interns should be paid for doing their work ,this is not slavery where by people work for free. Without a doubt interns will get motivated by reading your blog #goodstuff
ReplyDeleteSo do you feel that when regulations give employers a choice where most of the intern jobs are unpaid we would have less people who are interested in internships?
Deletei feel it is totally unethical for organisations to use students the way some of these organisation do,i mean who works for free these days? all internships should be paid regardless of experience or not,at the end of the day we all need to put food on the table.
ReplyDeleteI hear what you are saying Francina. Internships are the 1st stepping stones to a career builder. Just as a point of interest, in which wage range should students get for their internship work?
DeleteWhats worse than working for a living? Working, and not making a living at all?
ReplyDeleteI believe that internships should be paid. because if we take our memories back, the economy has been in a rough state for half a decade or more. New graduates are famously underemployed, and not having job experience makes it that much harder to climb out of the cycle of debt and poverty. Ironically, the very fact of their bad economic circumstances makes it necessary for students and the recently graduated to accept working for no pay, in the hopes of escaping a grim, underemployed future.
Bottom line, If internships aren't paid, only the wealthy will be able to be interns
So you feel internship wages contribute towards the economy? That is actually a very interesting thing you mentioned now, do the poor people envy the rich people and do the rich people need internships after all?
DeletePrecisely my point, College is more expensive than ever before, and the vast majority of students don't have families who can pay their tuition and expenses, all year round, including while they're doing unpaid internships. Rich people will still remain unshaken
DeleteLets just get back to the point here sir. Did you carefully read and understand the five key issues that i mentioned in the content of this blog? Your argument is you raising has nothing to do with the content of this blog. Please read it again and tell me your views about the ethical key issues that employers must take into consideration. Does these factors influence the employer to pay for internships?
DeleteWell taking those key issues into consideration i see now what you mean. I still stand by that employers must pay for internships.
DeleteIm glad you do and perhaps one day all internships will be paid for.
DeleteI feel that they should be compensated for their efforts. Even though it might look like we need them more than they need us, our contribution is just as vital.
ReplyDeleteWe are all aware that most of the time the people who engage in internships are not experienced people in that specific field. With that being said is an interns contribution as vital as you make it sound? I mean they are their to gain experience and learn.
Deletei also think they should be given some kind of allowance to show appreciation for their hard work. Goba le e bona bjang taba e Ntate Moshitwa?
ReplyDeleteI hear what you saying with your first point. I have absolutely no idea what you saying with your second sentence,Lets keep this blog professional and strictly English. I would like people to read and understand your comment so they will be able to reply to it. Please feel free to comment again and express yourself using English. Coming back to your first point, do you think appreciation links with the five key issues that employers must take into consideration which are stated in the content of this blog?
DeleteI am a PR student and the moment I read this it opened my eyes. I never knew that some internships are unpaid. I wish to see more of your informative blogs. The employers should really look into this and start paying students for the bit of work they do. I mean they did go to school after all.
ReplyDeleteI'm very glad that this was an eye opener to you. Its good that you are a PR student becoz the key issues will help you when you engage in your internship.
DeleteI've heard of this before. I think it is unethical for employers not to pay. this matter should be dealt with and im glad a blog like this exists.
ReplyDeleteYour comment is noted my friend..I'm whose trusted hands should this matter be taken into, do you think the government can do something about this? And its unethical in terms of?
Deleteinterns should be paid like any other employee as they contribute to the growth and production of the company.
ReplyDeleteCan they really contribute to the growth with no experience? And so you feel they should get paid for learning?
DeleteI think they should be payed because it is not only them who benefit from the organisation but the organisation also benefits from them. Students gain experience and it counts as a major part of their qualification, and they contribute to the growth of the organisation, which benefits the organisation.
ReplyDeleteOk thats very interesting but if you dont mind telling me, what do the organisation benefit from them? Should the organisation consider the 5 key issues if they looking to benifit from them?
Deletei think that interns should be payed as they dont just wake up in the morning to go there and chill but to work hard like the rest of the employees
ReplyDeleteDont you think that interns need their employers more than their employers need them. what are your thoughts about that?
DeleteI think the employers need interns as mucgh as the interns need their employers,so they have to meet each other half way. Interns have to be paid yes and good salaries because they come with lots of efforts and fresh brains from varsity.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your comment. although, does fresh brains do better in the workplace than experienced brains?
Deleteim strongly in agreenment with Francina, all internships should be paid for regardless of experience, work is work, no pay, no work!
ReplyDeleteWell we do live in a world where every bit of effort must be paid for. I get what you saying and i also feel employers must pay for internships. Your comment is valued.
DeleteStudents must definately get paid for their internships.Transport fees to the workplace and other costs of living have to be considerd
ReplyDeleteWould you add the two aspects which you justr mentioned to the five key issues? thank you for your comment.
DeleteThank you so much for sharing your views with me guys. More blogs posts will be up and we can turn this into a fun learning experience. Your comments are highly valued. Feel free to subscribe to my blog for future posts.
ReplyDelete