The other main concern regarding internships involves work hours. Paid interns who enjoy the same privileges as employees are “non-exempt.” This means that they should earn overtime pay for any hours over 40 in a given week. California also has a law about 8 hour workdays, so an intern is entitled two hours of overtime if he or she works a 10 hour day, regardless of the amount of hours he or she logs per week.
Other rules may exist regarding work hours depending on the intern’s age. In California, 14 is the minimum age for employment as mandated by federal law. Interns aged 14 or 15 may only work three hours on school days and no more than 18 hours during the school week. Minors must have a permit to work.
Paid interns enjoy many of the same benefits as employees, such as paid overtime. Unpaid interns, on the other hand, have fewer protections. Interns should be aware of their rights and employers must understand the nature of an intern’s work to avoid violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Many believe that unless the internship is purely educational, interns should receive payment. Regardless of payment, interns should not be subject to harassment or discrimination.
If you are a paid intern and suspect that you are working more or getting paid less than California law allows, contact a Los Angeles wage & hour violations attorney at Mathew & George to discuss your situation. We offer free consultations.