Click here to read the Department of Labor Internship Wage and Hour Fact Sheet
What you should know
Utilizing interns and part time student employees can be a rewarding experience for the company as well as an intern. Be careful to substantiate claims that you can utilize interns “for free.” If you are a for-profit employer, there aren’t many circumstances where you can sponsor an unpaid internship and be in compliance with the law. Be sure to refer to Department of Labor guidelines on the topic as well as the Florida Wage and Hour Laws. The Florida-Wage and Hour Laws website is located at http://www.employmentlawhandbook.com/wage-and-hour-laws/state-wage-and-hour-laws/florida/.
Other Department of Labor topics that may of interest to you include the following:
- Must young workers be paid the minimum wage? http://www.dol.gov/elaws/faq/esa/flsa/003.htm
Also, before opting to establish an unpaid internship, talk with your workers’ compensation, general liability, and employer practices liability insurance carriers to ensure that you have proper coverage to handle any situation that could potentially arise regarding workplace incident or injury.
For students under 17, you need to understand the Department of Labor child labor provisions,
http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/childlabor101.pdf. Some frequently asked questions regarding the provisions can be found at http://www.dol.gov/elaws/faq/esa/flsa/toc.htm#cl (scroll to the bottom of the page to find the section).
If you are a federal contractor, contact your compliance officer to ensure that you properly handle Affirmative Action Job Posting Requirements for Internships and Student Employment Opportunities.
How to Connect
Educational Institutions in the local area offer a selection of intern programs. Each institution has its own process for intern placement according to its educational objectives. You can also hire students as part time workers outside of the formal internship programs. Points of contact for local educational institutions are listed below:
| Educational Institution | Internship Program Contact | Contact Information |
|---|---|---|
| Volusia County Schools | Dr. Kristen Pierce | e-mail: [email protected] 386-255-6475 x20642 |
| Daytona State College | Cheryl Miller – Computer Science and Workforce Programs
Dean Howe – Career Services
|
Work Experience Coordinator e-mail: [email protected] 386-506-4143
Career Services |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | Career Services | [email protected] 386-226-6054 Click here for more information from the ERAU Website |
| University of Central Florida | Jackie Herold - Coordinator | e-mail: [email protected] 407-823-2667 http://career.ucf.edu/work-experience http://career.ucf.edu/employers Click here for more information from the UCF Website |
| Bethune-Cookman University | Career Services | https://www.cookman.edu/currentstudents/studdev/career/employers/index.html
386-481-2143 |
| Stetson University | Office of Career and Professional Development | http://www.stetson.edu/administration/career/employers.php
386-822-7315 |