The Regional Internship Center strives to clarify any misunderstandings associated with the labor laws and internships by providing resources from the Department of Labor and other labor experts.

While we cannot provide legal advice, we can help employers structure internship programs that comply with Department of Labor standards of employment.

Recently, thirteen university presidents sent a letter to U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis asking her to not to regulate internship programs. The letter stresses the important and increasingly vital role internship programs have on the career path of people looking to gain work experience. No one can disagree with the sentiment expressed by these universities. In the seven years the RIC has been in existence, we have witnessed the shift in the role of internships in kick-starting the careers of our upcoming workforce.

The Washington D.C. think tank, Economic Policy Institute‘s Vice President Ross Eisenbrey also wrote a letter to Honorable Hilda Solis reminding everyone that the Department of Labor has always regulated internships. In fact, Mr. Eisenbrey notes in his letter, “The Department [of Labor] has not proposed any change in its regulation but has merely sent a reminder to employers and employees that the law, the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, must be followed, along with guidance to help them comply.”