Links à la Mode: Are unpaid interns modern slaves?

A former intern is accusing a major fashion magazine of illegally exploiting hundreds of unpaid interns, including her. Is this just the tip of the iceberg?

Photo credit: D. Vigears for C2RMF

Hi, while reading this week's Links à la Mode, I stumbled upon Blue Perk's blog and the following interesting story about a former intern, who is now suing Harper's Bazaar.

Unpaid Internship Class Action

Xuedan Wang has done an internship at Harper's Bazaar so as many other aspiring fashion enthusiasts in the hope to gain work experience and set a foot into the fashion industry.

But the reality is, she has often worked over 40–55 hours per week, served a four month long unpaid internship, while essentially "doing the work of a paid employee", according to a recent NY Times post.

She is now suing the company and filed a class action, accusing the company of illegally taking advantage of hundreds of unpaid interns, including her.

Does this sound familiar to you? Have you also applied for internships, only to find out that unpaid internships are becoming the norm rather than the exception?

In my former job as a programmer and computer scientist it was unimaginable to me to work for a company without being compensated, yet I have experienced this practice heavily in the fashion, model, marketing and blog business.

Of course, sometimes an unpaid job can be mutually beneficial, is a great experience and a chance to build a valuable network, but when unpaid interns are replacing the jobs of normal and entry-level employees, it starts to get inherently unfair.

I regard unpaid internships as a modern form of slavery, if you are forced into it and when everybody else is seemingly willing to work for free or almost nothing. You are still investing your precious time and experience. Asking for a compensation should never feel awkward.

Guidelines from the United States Labor Department

Finally, I would like to cite a useful fact sheet from the United Sates Labor Department. Under The Fair Labor Standards Act, Internship Programs are only lawful, if all of the following conditions are met:

• The internship, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to training which would be given in an educational environment.
• The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern.
• The intern does not displace regular employees, but works under close supervision of existing staff.
• The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern; and on occasion its operations may actually be impeded.
• The intern is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship (note: internships are not a substitution for trial periods).
• The employer and the intern understand that the intern is not entitled to wages for the time spent in the internship (note: unpaid internship offers have to clearly disclose the fact that they are unpaid).

I am really interested how Xuedan Wang's case will turn out and hope that interns will eventually get compensated for their work.

Moving on to other inspirational stories from Links á la Mode:

A Closer Look At The Eyeliner

Pretty Passions, Fine Fashions takes a closer look at the eyeliner, from the Egyptians to Audrey Hepburn. Did you know that the Egyptians have seen the eyeliner as a protection against eye diseases?

Ten Commandments Of Style

I Want It All blogger June from Mumbai says that a true style icon breaks the rules and masters the ten commandments of style, listed in her recent blog post. Bonus: June also runs a neat blog about her journey into video games: The June Effect! Very cool!

More beauty and style tips in this links roundup:

Links à la Mode: Stylish Beauty

Edited by: Meghan Donovan of WIT & Whimsy

One thing I’ve always practiced is the belief that fashion and beauty go hand in hand. I blog about makeup and skincare sometimes just as much as fashion and believe beauty balances or emphasises a look. This week’s Links a la Mode showcase that many other IFB bloggers out there believe the same. So this week, take notes, there’s lots to learn from the following posts.

The IFB Weekly Roundup – February 2nd 2012

• 40+ Style: How to Wear Orange
• Blue Perk: Stylish Packing Tips
• Chic ‘n Cheap Living: DIY Chevron Manicure
• Designed By Ann: Current Beauty Product Favorites
• Girl Loves Color: Haute Couture Color
• In Her Glam: Take Jessica Alba’s Style
• I Have a Degree in This: Halston’s Documentary
• I Want it All: Style Commandments 
• Little Miss Makeup: DIY 1950s Glamour Tutorial
• Lulu Abroad: Packing Efficiently & Stylishly 
• Miss Viki Secrets: Best Dressed at the Golden Globes
• My Fashion Wish List: Karl Lagerfield’s New Line
• Pretty Passions, Fine Fashions: A Closer Look at Eyeliner
• Studded Fantasy: Backstage at Elie Saab
• Style & Delights: What to Carry in Your Handbag
• Style Pockets: Finding Fashion Inspiration
• The Fashionistyle: Kate Middleton, Style Muse
• The Sparkle: Concealing Dark Circles
• WIT & Whimsy: Spotlight on Equipment Blouses
• YCC: Spring Beauty Trends