Ad Lib Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 Should unpaid internships be stopped? This came up in conversation between me and some mates yesterday and it set me thinking. Yes, its exploitative, but at the same time, people take up these positions willingly, because they see the experience and networking opportunities as worth the effort. Obviously theyd prefer to be paid, but if they're happy enough to do work unpaid, why should they have to be? Does anyone else have an opinion on these? I think P&B might be turning me into a market liberal. Thanks a bunch, Ad Lib, Swampy and H_B edit: although it doesnt help that the only 'socialist' worth reading on here is renton and he's not posting much atm. The issue at the moment is less whether internships should be allowed to be unpaid, but what kind of work people are being made to do as "interns". All too often it's less experience-orientated and used as a means to exploit the system for free labour for what are essentially jobs in all but name. They're exploiting a situation where higher levels of unemployment in the 16-24 range correlates with a desire to get a foot in the door. My understanding of the law is that depending on the character of activity, internships will be deemed contracts of employment and there is then an obligation to pay the minimum wage in respect of hours worked, but the problem is there's next to zero enforcement of the provisions. The employer's argument (which I used to find persuasive but now less so) is that they would pay them if they could, but that they're not "worth" the minimum wage and they're not allowed to pay them less. The major thing as well is that these internships often mean getting very little by way of expenses reimbursed. It ends up not simply being revenue neutral to the intern, but actually revenue negative where not all travel costs are met and living costs continue to exist. It creates a barrier to the market-place for those who cannot gain external support (e.g. family) until they build the experience to get into a paid position. The argument in respect of Universities is a similar one. The issue isn't the fees people are being charged, but the lack of maintenance support for those who could not otherwise go months, possibly years without a direct source of income. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoda Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 I got the BCG when I was very wee. Probably two-ish (maybe three). The doctor/nurse hadn't done it before, so he ended up putting the needle in wrong, then taking it out and trying - and failing - again. By this time I was bawling my eyes out and trying to desperately get away from the needles. Eventually they got it right, after a few attempts I have had a fear of getting injections ever since. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullywee Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 why has lichtieforlife been banned? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stimpy Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 Has anyone had one of those mcbreakfast wrap things, think I may have a bash at one tomorrow. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
th1stleandr0se Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 back in 4th year i missed the skin test so didn't get my BCG and the next year they scrapped them. bullywee - no BCG You'll get BCG then, whatever it is, because you're not inoculated against it. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stimpy Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 Neither am I, it protects against TB and lasts 15 years so mine is well worn out. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forehead7 Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 I don't have a car or anything so this might be a really obvious answers, but when someone sticks about £20 worth of petrol in their car how many litres is that?(roughly) I ask because I noticed my Tesco receipt had 5p off every litre of petrol and it seemed like a small saving. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wunfellaff Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 I don't have a car or anything so this might be a really obvious answers, but when someone sticks about £20 worth of petrol in their car how many litres is that?(roughly) I ask because I noticed my Tesco receipt had 5p off every litre of petrol and it seemed like a small saving. Really? Probably @ 15 litres depending on where you live. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H Wragg Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 It's 15.15 litees at £1.32 per litre. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weirdcal Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 My BCG scar is just above my elbow, nowhere near where everyone else has there's. Bluddy nurses I didnt scar! But then again according to the 6 needle thing you got weeks before it I didn't need the bloody thing 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
endieinreekie Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Why do people dress up in full camoflage gear to go fishing? So the fish can't see them. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unleash The Nade Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Why do people dress up in full camoflage gear to go fishing? In case salmon see's them 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweet Pete Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Should unpaid internships be stopped? This came up in conversation between me and some mates yesterday and it set me thinking. Yes, its exploitative, but at the same time, people take up these positions willingly, because they see the experience and networking opportunities as worth the effort. Obviously theyd prefer to be paid, but if they're happy enough to do work unpaid, why should they have to be? Does anyone else have an opinion on these? I think P&B might be turning me into a market liberal. Thanks a bunch, Ad Lib, Swampy and H_B edit: although it doesnt help that the only 'socialist' worth reading on here is renton and he's not posting much atm. If you think you're possibly bored of socialism then read any post by "uni" and his inane, childish ramblings should ensure that you're put off completely. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
banterman86 Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Should unpaid internships be stopped? This came up in conversation between me and some mates yesterday and it set me thinking. Yes, its exploitative, but at the same time, people take up these positions willingly, because they see the experience and networking opportunities as worth the effort. Obviously theyd prefer to be paid, but if they're happy enough to do work unpaid, why should they have to be? Does anyone else have an opinion on these? Yes, they discrimnate against those from lower income backgrounds. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swampy Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 (edited) Yes, they discrimnate against those from lower income backgrounds. Full-time ones do, absolutely. Part-time ones, do they? I started in my current job as a volunteer doing seven hours a week, while also working full-time. edit: also TBR I recovered from libertarianism over a year ago... I favour mixed-market solutions in line with European orthodoxy Edited November 11, 2011 by Swampy 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10 CC ICT Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 In case salmon see's them I had to read that out loud to get it. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
banterman86 Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Full-time ones do, absolutely. Part-time ones, do they? I started in my current job as a volunteer doing seven hours a week, while also working full-time. Mmm, you;d need to take it on a case by case basis I suspect, but this is a fair point. When i think "internship" i think of the Americanised "6 week placement" type of thing, rather than someone volunteering a day. edit: also TBR I recovered from libertarianism over a year ago... I favour mixed-market solutions in line with European orthodoxy can you expand or define that at all? In what way? Sorry just curious. As Swampy points out, Young Graduate doing an unpaid full time intership at, for example, a PR firm is going t have to find an income stream outwith of the 35 hour work week the full time internship demands. Now they could keep up their weekend jobs, and work 7 day weeks but it's far from ideal. I don't want this to descned to "rich wans" and the "Bank of Mummy and Daddy", but it will be easier for young people who have financial support to do unpaid internships, which tend to be in fairly elite indutries and organisations which under-represent peoplefrom low income backgrounds in the first place 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Dufresne Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 When you remove a private number plate from a car does the original number go back on the car by the dvla? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Dufresne Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 How much are private number plates? Depends on what you want,My wife got mines for my birthday from the DVLA website and it was £255. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckles Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 (edited) When you remove a private number plate from a car does the original number go back on the car by the dvla? When the private plate is removed, the car must be re registered with the DVLA using the original number. Edited November 13, 2011 by chuckles 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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