Is it legal to require an unpaid intern to work over 10 hours a day, five days a week with no guaranteed lunch break?
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Is it legal to require an unpaid intern to work over 10 hours a day, five days a week with no guaranteed lunch break?
My 24 year old daughter was accepted as an unpaid intern at the Milwaukee County
Zoo. She is required to work 10 hours a day 5 daysin a row and due to the work
load, is not always guaranteed she will get a lunch break. Is there a limit on
the hours an unpaid intern can be forced to work?
Asked on June 5, 2016 under Employment Labor Law, Wisconsin
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
Actually, there are no more unpaid internships for adults in positions like this: your daughter is working, and must be oaid to work at least minimum wage. (They don't need to provide her benefits or pay her as much as a non-intern.) The possible exception is if she is doing this through college or grad school, for course credit or as part of a coyrse or graduation credit; in that case, she should speak to a college advisor about the program limitations and requirements.
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