Colleges, Employers Rethink Internship Policies

Court Cases, Legislation Spur Some Companies to Drops Programs; Others Introduce Pay

The rules have changed for summer interns.

Since last year’s class vacated the lowest rungs of the corporate totem pole, a string of high-profile lawsuits by unpaid interns has worked its way through the courts, and legislatures have passed new protections, forcing both schools and employers to rethink their policies.

Some companies are moving toward paid programs. Others, like magazine publisher Condé Nast, are getting rid of internship programs altogether. The pressures could result in better pay and educational experiences for interns who win the coveted openings–but fiercer competition for the spots that remain.

By
Rachel Feintzeig and
Melissa Korn

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