Interns
I work for a company that employees college age interns during the summer. We secure their housing and pay their rent for them while they are working for us. We have been told that it is legal to pay them a flat wage (below minimum wage) because their hours fluctuate so much depending on how many kids are at camp each week.
From all of the newspaper ads I've seen it looks like a common practice, but I don't think its legal, am I wrong?
Re: Interns
You can start with an inquiry to the CA Labor Commissioner [who enforces the Wage/Hours laws] for an informal opinion, if they will give you one. Or, you can consult with an attorney to research and provide the opinion based upon all the facts of the situation. Many employers and advertisers are uninformed about the wage and hour laws, and violate them regularly. It keeps us attorneys in business. Feel free to contact me if serious about doing this.
