Unpaid jobs: The new normal? (HopeyChangey...)

CNN Money ^ | 03/26/2011 | CNN Money

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

FORTUNE -- With nearly 14 million unemployed workers in America, many have gotten sodesperate that they're willing to work for free. While some businesses are wary of the legal risks and supervision such an arrangement might require, companies that have used free workers say it can pay off when done right.

"People who work for free are far hungrier than anybody who has a salary, so they're going to outperform, they're going to try to please, they're going to be creative," says Kelly Fallis, chief executive of Remote Stylist, a Toronto and New York-based startup that provides Web-based interior design services. "From a cost savings perspective, to get something off the ground, it's huge. Especially if you're a small business."

In the last three years, Fallis has used about 50 unpaid interns for duties in marketing, editorial, advertising, sales, account management and public relations. She's convinced it's the wave of the future in human resources. "Ten years from now, this is going to be the norm," she says.

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

Please tell me how this can’t or won’t lead to grossly underpaid skilled labor once the job market returns?

[gorush]

Just think of the forests that will be saved by not having to print all those checks.

[ccmay]

The unions will have something to say about this, I suspect. And surely they are violating a minimum wage law or something?

[JimRed]

"People who work for free are far hungrier than anybody who has a salary...because they can't afford to eat!"

[Palter]

Please tell me how this can’t or won’t lead to grossly underpaid skilled labor once the job market returns?

Kinda the point. In a global economy, the US worker is gonna have to cut his salary to compete.

Enjoy.

[Drango]

Free workers???? Clear violation of labor laws. Slam dunk. Exposes the employer to TRIPLE damages.

[razorback-bert]

What a country, we have paid volunteers and unpaid workers.

[triumphant values]

In the last three years, Fallis has used about 50 unpaid interns for duties in marketing, editorial, advertising, sales, account management and public relations. She's convinced it's the wave of the future in human resources. "Ten years from now, this is going to be the norm," she says.

Apparently this low life broad has already appointed herself one of the new plantation managers.

[de.rm]

Paperless direct deposit, then they deduct training fees & other “expenses” from your first few pay periods, the trend, designed by creeps, creeps on.

[triumphant values]

The challenges of hiring and managing modern day serfs

This right here is about the most honest line I've ever seen printed in the newsmedia in my life.

[R. Scott]

I thought unpaid workers were called “interns”.

[WePledge]

I thought this was from the Onion at first but I guess
truth really is stranger than fiction. Go figure.

[Emmett McCarthy]

What the hell is this? Some kind of psychological feel good thing? People will be able to say “Of course, I’m working” and just not notice the little absence of compensation? I have a perfectly good couch and TV remote. When someone is offering money, I’ll get up, OK? No, I’m not lazy but I’m not a damned fool either.

[raybbr]

Hey, Arianna Huffington became a multi-millionaire this way...

[Jim 726]

in the “olden days”, this was called an apprenticeship. Free work in exchange for experience.

[Drango]

McDonald’s can’t hire a bunch of “interns” to serve you burgers or they would. See this under the FLSA

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs71.htm

[Graybeard58]

People who are stupid enough to work for nothing, deserve every penny they earn.

[LibFreeOrDie]

Kelly Fallis, chief executive

I bet SHE doesn't work for free!

[jacquej]

Just what I was thinking... There is nothing new under the sun.

I think apprenticeships are an excellent idea. Valuable experience and skills can be gained, without the high costs of tuition. And, if one applies oneself, one can get good recommendations and a serious head start on the unskilled but edumacated competition.