What does the DOL maintain regarding using academic credit to justify unpaid status when the intern performs substantive work?
Answer
Academic credit alone cannot justify unpaid status
If a student is performing productive work for the employer while receiving academic credit, the Department of Labor maintains that the credit itself is insufficient justification for classifying the role as unpaid.
Related Questions
Which U.S. federal law significantly influences whether compensation for an intern is mandatory?In the U.S., what factor primarily determines the legal requirement for paying an intern?Which condition suggests an employer is the primary beneficiary, likely requiring payment for an internship in a for-profit setting?In which sectors are paid internships increasingly the norm rather than the exception?Besides hourly wages, what are two other forms of remuneration mentioned for interns?What does the DOL maintain regarding using academic credit to justify unpaid status when the intern performs substantive work?If an intern is receiving regular payment, what documentation should they typically expect?If a state has minimum wage laws stricter than the federal standard, which must the employer adhere to?What structural element often indicates a high-quality, well-structured paid internship?Which question helps an intern assess if their expected output is merely educational or has tangible business value?