[IER] With half of young graduates in internships, is it becoming "normal" to work for free?

Fri Nov 23 15:14:12 GMT 2018

IER News Brief 23/11/18

 <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=7598c36260&e=71131c031b> Follow us on Twitter 

news brief

Friday 23rd November 2018

 42bef9e9-0080-4d3d-9334-2e260fdb3b8d.gif <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/42bef9e9-0080-4d3d-9334-2e260fdb3b8d.gif> 

New research from the Sutton Trust <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=3d8839d489&e=71131c031b> , a social mobility charity, has found that nearly half of graduates under the age of 24 have taken internships and doing multiple internships is not uncommon, with the average graduate currently in their 20s having taken 1.8 so far. With 70% of interns saying they have done at least one unpaid internship, this could be a sign that the idea of working for free in order to get a paid job is becoming normalised.

And it's not just a week of work experience here and there. The Sutton Trust found that over half of placements lasted for over four weeks and one in ten continued for more than six months. Middle class graduates (who, unsurprisingly, are more likely to take internships than working class ones) tend to rely on their families for money, while working class graduates take a second job.

Even more worryingly, the youngest graduates are now at risk of getting trapped in an endless cycle of unpaid work. Traditionally, internships were viewed as a route into highly paid, competitive industries. But the research found a burgeoning trend of graduates taking unpaid internship after unpaid internship without landing paid work as a result.

Although the study found 50% of employers are not aware of it, paying interns below the minimum wage is often illegal. If the reality of the intern's situation fits the legal definition of a 'worker', they have a right to be paid at the statutory minimum at the very least. Despite this, the HMRC has made no prosecutions for this breach in the last nine years, and some of the highest rates of unpaid internships were found at Westminster.

In simple terms, ignoring the law is the new normal. This is one of the issues highlighted in our latest report Rolling out the Manifesto for Labour Law <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=b2b003edba&e=71131c031b>  – recommendations of which have informed Labur Party policy. In that publication, we propose a new system of enforcement to ensure the law is upheld in the workplace.

The reinstatement of sectoral collective bargaining and a genuine choice to be represented by a trade union at work would allow unions and employers to standardise the minimum pay and conditions for interns across entire industries and then ensure this agreement is enforced. Dispute resolution procedures can be negotiated to resolve breaches in-house as a first port of call, reducing workers' reliance on litigation to claim their rights. Further, an independent Labour Inspectorate is needed to identify breaches and ensure the law is enforced.

Our President, and lead co-author of the report, Professor Keith Ewing will be presenting the evidence and recommendations contained in Rolling Out the Manifesto for Labour Law at University College London on Tuesday (27 November 2018) <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=d0aed27a0d&e=71131c031b> . The event is free, open to all, and a great introduction to our work. But be sure to book your seats in advance, as it is likely to fill up quickly!

Speaking of events, many thanks to the 70+ delegates who squeezed into the Employment Law Update event in Liverpool last week. The conference, like the one before it, was oversubscribed well in advance, so we know that, unfortunately, many of you missed out. If you want to catch up on the day's debate, we've uploaded all of the papers and publications from the event on our website <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=1fcbc9d3be&e=71131c031b>  for free download, alongside a detailed report from delegate Ben Crawford.

Read more about our recommendations for reform in the Manifesto for Labour Law <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=44b7b4bc3f&e=71131c031b>  

Scroll down for even more news and comment from the IER, your chance to show your support for our Manifesto proposals, and information on forthcoming events and new publications. 

Subscribers receive all of our publications free and discount rates on our conferences.  <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=353f6b4f7e&e=71131c031b> Subscribe now 

 Tweet your support

Support the Manifesto proposals by clicking any (or all!) of the below boxes to tweet out the message that suits you best.

 <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=d7bdc0b002&e=71131c031b> 

 <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=56a3b9e48e&e=71131c031b> 

 <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=4455543353&e=71131c031b> 

 <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=d1b3c9713d&e=71131c031b> 

 <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=5a4180cf62&e=71131c031b> 

 News and comment

 30th anniversary <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/a445c496-c0c6-489d-86d5-33336f0515d9.jpg> 

	Support the IER in its 30th Anniversary year 
This year we are celebrating our forthcoming 30th Anniversary and we're appealing for your support. We hope to raise £30,000 to celebrate our 30 years and with these funds we will modernise our website and communications; promote our ideas through meetings, education packs, videos and animations; and establish a reserve to avoid repeat fundraising. 
 <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=32d1348ad8&e=71131c031b> > click here to read full story 

 low pay <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/c9de063b-cd73-4fc5-8d13-fb67b7e3e040.png> 

	More than a quarter of graduates forced into unpaid work, study finds 
Over one in four university graduates have taken unpaid internships, new research from social mobility charity the Sutton Trust has found. 
 <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=d0d934204b&e=71131c031b> > click here to read full story 

 Equality <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/41d5d27b-969b-4b55-bcb8-9a0e910471e3.png> 

	Labour vows to lead by example to end employment "snobbery" 
The Labour Party has vowed to lead by example to spur a "deep-seated culture change" in the UK labour market in order to end "snobbery" in recruitment processes. 
 <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=a0d9664015&e=71131c031b> > click here to read full story 

 Health and safety <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/b2c03606-1ca0-42dd-b5d2-e6271b972144.png> 

	Unions and employers call for mental health to be given same weight as physical health 
In an open letter signed by unions, employers and charities, Prime Minister Theresa May has been called upon to give mental health the same weight as physical health in the workplace. 
 <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=de93f4d8c9&e=71131c031b> > click here to read full story 

 Janet Newsham <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/db5aa62e-3f47-4098-b08b-8c0bed913c89.jpg> 

	COMMENT: If you really care about mental health at work, you should be suspicious of these Tory plans 
Coordinator of Greater Manchester Hazards Centre, Janet Newsham, explains why the Mental Health First Aid policy in the Conservative Party Manifesto - this week backed by unions and employers - will not improve mental health in the workplace if rolle out on its own. 
 <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=7e835b7075&e=71131c031b> > click here to read full story 

 <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=0b486d528f&e=71131c031b> db5cd436-242a-45ae-89a3-4f6c489d2eb5.jpg

 272d2533-eb4f-4d17-bafb-82cdf1fa5ccf.jpg <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/272d2533-eb4f-4d17-bafb-82cdf1fa5ccf.jpg> 

	Help Santa raise money for rights at work! 
On Sunday 2nd of December, our National Coordinator James Harrison will be donning his Santa Suit to run the 'Santa Dash', a 5k run in the heart of Liverpool City centre. He's doing this to raise money for the Institute of Employment Rights, in order to help us to promote and popularise our proposals to increase workplace rights, as defined by our recent publication 'Rolling out the manifesto for labour law'. 
 <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=a054c529fd&e=71131c031b> > click here to sponsor James 

  Employment Law Timeline 

 <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=e02eba3ebd&e=71131c031b> 272d2533-eb4f-4d17-bafb-82cdf1fa5ccf.jpg

	Employment law developments under the Conservative government 
Catch up on all the developments to employment and trade union law at our Conservative government timeline. The IER has been tracking labour law developments on our interactive timeline since 2010. This week, Amber Rudd dismisses United Nations warnings about UK poverty and Penny Mordaunt shifts the focus of the equalities office away from the gender pay gap. 
 <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=3f5125c076&e=71131c031b> > click here to explore the timeline 

 <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=7f69087983&e=71131c031b> a5b2e157-c932-43ab-819c-cec40b997a52.jpg

50% off Rolling Out the Manifesto for Labour Law

 8ca2aad5-3b78-4602-b0c9-9519795bcbf4.jpg <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/8ca2aad5-3b78-4602-b0c9-9519795bcbf4.jpg> 

	Was £10; now £5 
Backed by the Labour Party and the UK's major unions, the comprehensive recommendations detailed in this volume have been collaboratively authored by 26 leading labour lawyers and academics from some of the most prestigious universities in the UK. Taken together, they put forth a new framework for industrial relations and workers’ rights designed to better-fit the needs of a post-Brexit, increasingly automated and fragmented workforce. 
 <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=b83f994d59&e=71131c031b> > click here to order this deal 

Pick 'n' Mix book sale

 6644433c-aaef-456a-8677-74a5126b9656.jpg <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/6644433c-aaef-456a-8677-74a5126b9656.jpg> 

	Choose your perfect publication package 
This year, we're offering you the chance to pick your perfect package of books out of a list of our seven latest publications.

Pay just £10 for every 3 books, £12 for every 4 books, £14 for every 5 books or £15 for every 6 books 

Don't forget - if you spend over £12 on your Christmas order, you will be entered into our special prize draw! 
 <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=52cf22db3f&e=71131c031b> > click here to order this deal 

Free resources!

 6644433c-aaef-456a-8677-74a5126b9656.jpg <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/af589531-1f0b-40bc-8d16-163f37c79fcb.jpg> 

	Download papers and presentations from our Employment Law Update conference in Liverpool 
We have now uploaded all of the papers and presentations from our sold-out Employment Law Update event in Liverpool for ree download. Many thanks, also, to delegate Ben Crawford for writing a detailed report on the days' events. 
 <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=7bb7e8d519&e=71131c031b> > click here to order this deal 

To unsubscribe, please contact sarah at ier.org.uk <mailto:sarah at ier.org.uk?subject=Unsubscribe> . 

Produced by:
Institute of Employment Rights,
4th Floor, Jack Jones House
1 Islington
Liverpool L3 8EG
0151 207 5265
 <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=875b512c60&e=71131c031b> www.ier.org.uk 

  <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/open.php?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=b252827b9e&e=71131c031b> 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://mailman.gn.apc.org/pipermail/ier-elist/attachments/20181123/24d4bf7e/attachment-0001.html>