RPL Attorneys Hosted “Lunch & Learn” Discussion on the Practical and Legal Considerations Associated with Employing Interns

On Tuesday, January 20, 2015, RPL Partners Alice Jump and Deena Merlen and Associate Allison (“Ally”) Grein hosted a “Lunch & Learn” discussion, Internships and Internshipwrecks: How to Run a Great Internship Program While Avoiding the Potentially High Cost of Free Help, with a group of 16 decision makers from diverse sectors including media, legal, non-profit, and real estate.

The discussion was timely as several well-known companies have been sued for failing to pay their Interns. With such lawsuits on the rise, increased enforcement efforts by government agencies against worker misclassification, and the press making an example of companies that violate the laws in this area, the risks of not properly designing and implementing an Internship Program can be very high.

Some of the topics covered included:

• Under what circumstances an intern is considered an employee, and obligations this triggers for the employer;
• Under what circumstances an intern needs to be paid;
• Whether interns are protected by anti-discrimination/anti-harassment laws;
• How to be sure your company owns the rights in work created by an intern;
• Whether interns are entitled to benefits, such as health insurance coverage;
• What factors the United States Department of Labor considers when deciding if an unpaid internship program is lawful; and
• How to design and implement a proper and lawful internship program.

Reavis Parent Lehrer LLP has extensive experience counseling clients in a wide range of employment matters, including those related to Internship Programs. For more information or legal advice on this topic, please contact Alice Jump, Deena Merlen, or Ally Grein. To learn about upcoming Lunch & Learn discussions, please email Marketing and Event Coordinator Tanya Suwankosai, at tsuwankosai@rpl-law.com.