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Fair Internship Pledge

UXPA Boston is making a concerted effort, with other local and national organizations to support the ethical treatment of professional designers and students in the workplace.

 

The Pledge

I wish to join the people, companies, and organizations below by agreeing to offer compensation no less than the minimum state wages to all our employees and abide by the laws the U.S. Department of Labor set forth.

Why Pledge?

To achieve equitable practices, we urge our members to pledge compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act. Within these standards set forth by the U.S. Department of Labor, students who accept an internship at a private sector business must receive a fair wage that meets the state’s minimum requirements.

For a position to be legally unpaid, the U.S. Department of Labor states that a for-profit or private-sector business must meet ALL of the following qualifications:

  1. The internship, even though it includes the actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to training that would be given in an educational environment;
  2. The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern
  3. The intern does not displace regular employees but works under close supervision of existing staff;
  4. The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern, and on occasion, its operations may be impeded;
  5. The intern is not necessarily entitled to a job after the internship;
  6. The employer and the intern understand that the intern is not entitled to wages for the time spent in the internship.

To uphold the value of design, support better business practices and encourage meaningful experiences for interns, UXPA Boston, and other organizations are challenging all private-sector businesses to pledge to honor the law and fairly compensate the design students they may employ in the future.

Who can sign the Fair Internship Pledge?

All are welcome to add their voice to this important initiative. Whether you are signing on behalf of a large company with in-house designers, a studio, or an individual, please let your support of the ethical treatment of interns be known. You need not be an employer to express your views.

If you wish to support this cause publicly and agree to pledge this important promise to your future employees, contact us with your name, position, and company.