Ways to Help Business Internship Partners Avoid DOL Pitfalls
Many colleges and universities require some kind of practical,
hands-on experience as a part of their curriculum. Employers and
schools alike place a premium on real world experience that
cannot always be gained from sitting in a classroom. As such,
over the past several years unpaid internships have become
overwhelmingly popular among schools and businesses.  Colleges
and universities benefit from such internship programs by
offering their students a chance to gain valuable experience and
network within their chosen field. But educators beware. Recent
regulations by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) could threaten
future unpaid internship opportunities.  In April 2010, the
DOL’s Wage and Hour Division issued Fact Sheet #71, clarifying
when interns must receive compensation under the Fair Labor
Standards Act (FLSA). Ultimately, the more academically focused
an internship program is, the less likely the DOL will be to
deem the student an “employee”