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[–] Terkan 1 point 8 points (+9|-1) ago 

Exactly why these internships are compensated. He is holding himself to his own standards. He's paying them absolutely much more than he has to. He could pay them 0, but he's paying them 12. He would like everyone with a regular job to earn 15, but internships still could pay absolutely nothing. (only internships in for-profit private sectors cannot be unpaid if the following criteria apply)

The following six criteria must be applied when making this determination: The internship, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to training which would be given in an educational environment; The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern; The intern does not displace regular employees, but works under close supervision of existing staff; The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern; and on occasion its operations may actually be impeded; The intern is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship; and The employer and the intern understand that the intern is not entitled to wages for the time spent in the internship. If all of the factors listed above are met, an employment relationship does not exist under the FLSA, and the Act’s minimum wage and overtime provisions do not apply to the intern.

Clearly Bernie doesn't have to pay them anything. The fact that he is paying 12 is amazing. THere's no hypocrisy here, it is in fact the opposite. It actually goes to show that he is doing much more than he needs to to help out more in need.

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[–] Broc_Lia 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

I don't think that really works out. By paying them $12, he's acknowledging that they deserve pay, and his position on paid work is that you should be getting $15 or not getting the job at all. The argument that he's paying them more than he has to, but not as much as he thinks he should, is a little bit hypocritical.

The following six criteria must be applied when making this determination: The internship, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to training which would be given in an educational environment; The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern; The intern does not displace regular employees, but works under close supervision of existing staff; The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern; and on occasion its operations may actually be impeded; The intern is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship; and The employer and the intern understand that the intern is not entitled to wages for the time spent in the internship. If all of the factors listed above are met, an employment relationship does not exist under the FLSA, and the Act’s minimum wage and overtime provisions do not apply to the intern.

I'm not saying he's in breach of employment legislation. Even if they were considered workers he's still paying them above the minimum wage, I'm saying he's in breach of his principles.

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[–] Terkan ago 

Except it isn't a real job. It is an internship. They are there to learn, they aren't ready to do the job of a full staff member. If I was earning $15 I would not want an untrained student with no experience earning the same as me.

That's why so many are low/unpaid.