The job of an unpaid intern has just been made a little more bearable for the struggling student and…well, everyone. New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio just signed a bill that protects unpaid interns from discrimination and harassment by employers covered under the city’s human rights law.
HR experts explain that time and time again interns tell horror stories about how they were abused and taken advantage of at their internships, as employers often see interns as free labor.
The new legislation was passed unanimously by the City Council last month in response to a ruling where an unpaid intern wasn’t protected from unlawful harassment because she was not an employee. This ruling was made despite the fact that the law prohibits an employer from discriminating against any “person”.
Mayor DeBlasio said that the bill is being passed to help clarify human rights for anyone who may be interpreting the law too narrowly, especially in respect to interns. At the end of the day, an intern is just as protected as a full-time employee.
The amended law states that an intern is to be considered a “person” under the sections of law that prohibit any type of discriminatory practices. An intern is described in the amendment as a person who is performing work for the purpose of training.
This new law is effective starting on June 15, 2014.