Comments on: Farming Internships: Vital or Illegal? The Answer is Both. http://www.triplepundit.com/2010/02/farming-internships-vital-or-illegal-the-answer-is-both/ Business, Better. Since 2005 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:33:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rustyhttp://www.triplepundit.com/2010/02/farming-internships-vital-or-illegal-the-answer-is-both/comment-page-1/#comment-66070 Rusty Thu, 04 Nov 2010 18:47:40 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/?p=26138#comment-66070 Nice post, I currently have an unpaid <a href="http://www.vault.com/wps/portal/usa/internships" rel="nofollow">internship</a> for a publication company and it certainly isn't legal. I have mixed feelings on this issue because without unpaid interns most small business would not be able to compete, and I'm sure that's how it is with smaller farms as well. I tried to volunteer for the Take Our Jobs campaign this summer in Colorado, but no local farms were participating because of the legality of having unpaid workers on the farm. This is an interesting subject, nice post. Nice post, I currently have an unpaid internship for a publication company and it certainly isn’t legal. I have mixed feelings on this issue because without unpaid interns most small business would not be able to compete, and I’m sure that’s how it is with smaller farms as well. I tried to volunteer for the Take Our Jobs campaign this summer in Colorado, but no local farms were participating because of the legality of having unpaid workers on the farm. This is an interesting subject, nice post.

]]> By: christopherfbardenhttp://www.triplepundit.com/2010/02/farming-internships-vital-or-illegal-the-answer-is-both/comment-page-1/#comment-40598 christopherfbarden Sat, 15 May 2010 02:02:46 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/?p=26138#comment-40598 My organization, Worldwide Farmers Exchange, helps US farmers get legal interns. We are a non-profit organization that helps young agriculturalists become professionals.<br><br>We've been doing this for over 60 years. Check us out at <a href="http://www.worldwidefarmers.org" rel="nofollow">www.worldwidefarmers.org</a><br><br>Christopher Barden<br>VP/ARO<br>WFE My organization, Worldwide Farmers Exchange, helps US farmers get legal interns. We are a non-profit organization that helps young agriculturalists become professionals.

We've been doing this for over 60 years. Check us out at http://www.worldwidefarmers.org

Christopher Barden
VP/ARO
WFE

]]> By: christopherfbardenhttp://www.triplepundit.com/2010/02/farming-internships-vital-or-illegal-the-answer-is-both/comment-page-1/#comment-31668 christopherfbarden Fri, 14 May 2010 19:02:46 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/?p=26138#comment-31668 My organization, Worldwide Farmers Exchange, helps US farmers get legal interns. We are a non-profit organization that helps young agriculturalists become professionals.<br><br>We've been doing this for over 60 years. Check us out at <a href="http://www.worldwidefarmers.org" rel="nofollow">www.worldwidefarmers.org</a><br><br>Christopher Barden<br>VP/ARO<br>WFE My organization, Worldwide Farmers Exchange, helps US farmers get legal interns. We are a non-profit organization that helps young agriculturalists become professionals.

We've been doing this for over 60 years. Check us out at http://www.worldwidefarmers.org

Christopher Barden
VP/ARO
WFE

]]> By: Bradhttp://www.triplepundit.com/2010/02/farming-internships-vital-or-illegal-the-answer-is-both/comment-page-1/#comment-26295 Brad Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:50:19 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/?p=26138#comment-26295 I'm curious - what about paying minimum wage and then having a second agreement where the intern pays for room, board and education? Many colleges have work/trade or service learning agreements.<br><br>Of course, a clever pay idea still won't protect the farmer who hasn't paid for liability and work insurance. As a non-profit administrator who hires (and pays) interns, the insurance for a small summer job can quickly become a major, but absolutely necessary, expense. I'm curious – what about paying minimum wage and then having a second agreement where the intern pays for room, board and education? Many colleges have work/trade or service learning agreements.

Of course, a clever pay idea still won't protect the farmer who hasn't paid for liability and work insurance. As a non-profit administrator who hires (and pays) interns, the insurance for a small summer job can quickly become a major, but absolutely necessary, expense.

]]> By: Farming Internships: Vital or Illegal? The Answer is Both | Beginning Farmershttp://www.triplepundit.com/2010/02/farming-internships-vital-or-illegal-the-answer-is-both/comment-page-1/#comment-26193 Farming Internships: Vital or Illegal? The Answer is Both | Beginning Farmers Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:21:03 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/?p=26138#comment-26193 [...] From the TriplePundit: [...] [...] From the TriplePundit: [...]

]]> By: Williamhttp://www.triplepundit.com/2010/02/farming-internships-vital-or-illegal-the-answer-is-both/comment-page-1/#comment-24530 William Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:03:19 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/?p=26138#comment-24530 The author of this article is correct that utilizing voluntary labor in a for-profit enterprise is illegal, and for *several* good reasons. Not only is it a distinct violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act and other minimum wage laws, it is also a serious violation of Workers Compensation laws. If a volunteer is injured on the job, all manner of legal mayhem may well result which the injured victim cannot prevent, even if they are your best friend. One could very easily loose the farm as a result and even end up in jail (not paying Workers Comp is a felony). And free meals and room, no matter how lavish, don't count as compensation.<br><br>Moreover, there is a strong ethical argument against voluntary labor. It is *very* unfair competition with those who are both working and paying by the rules. It clearly has the potential to reduce the number of low-skill jobs available and it also reduces the economic viability of those who provide such jobs.<br><br>Utilizing volunteers on the farm, like so many things in life, seems like a good idea. But it isn't; don't do it. If you can't pay at least minimum wage you must either rethink your business plan or get your enterprise registered as a legitimate nonprofit. Good luck! The author of this article is correct that utilizing voluntary labor in a for-profit enterprise is illegal, and for *several* good reasons. Not only is it a distinct violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act and other minimum wage laws, it is also a serious violation of Workers Compensation laws. If a volunteer is injured on the job, all manner of legal mayhem may well result which the injured victim cannot prevent, even if they are your best friend. One could very easily loose the farm as a result and even end up in jail (not paying Workers Comp is a felony). And free meals and room, no matter how lavish, don't count as compensation.

Moreover, there is a strong ethical argument against voluntary labor. It is *very* unfair competition with those who are both working and paying by the rules. It clearly has the potential to reduce the number of low-skill jobs available and it also reduces the economic viability of those who provide such jobs.

Utilizing volunteers on the farm, like so many things in life, seems like a good idea. But it isn't; don't do it. If you can't pay at least minimum wage you must either rethink your business plan or get your enterprise registered as a legitimate nonprofit. Good luck!

]]> By: Farming Internships: Vital or Illegal? The Answer is Both « Unfair Internshipshttp://www.triplepundit.com/2010/02/farming-internships-vital-or-illegal-the-answer-is-both/comment-page-1/#comment-24070 Farming Internships: Vital or Illegal? The Answer is Both « Unfair Internships Wed, 03 Feb 2010 02:24:57 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/?p=26138#comment-24070 [...] Internships: Vital or Illegal? The Answer is Both A reality check for someone who thought that for-profit companies could hire free labor because what they do is [...] [...] Internships: Vital or Illegal? The Answer is Both A reality check for someone who thought that for-profit companies could hire free labor because what they do is [...]

]]> By: Jess @OpenlyBalancedhttp://www.triplepundit.com/2010/02/farming-internships-vital-or-illegal-the-answer-is-both/comment-page-1/#comment-24068 Jess @OpenlyBalanced Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:10:59 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/?p=26138#comment-24068 I agree about the size. Also certain situations. You definitely want to have a system that protects people from being exploited, but it seems like there should be some way to quantify the educational value of these kinds of internships. I am looking into starting a school-based gardening/business project where students sell their crops at a local farmer's market. Would I then be the "illegal intern" in my volunteer capacity at their for-profit venture? I agree about the size. Also certain situations. You definitely want to have a system that protects people from being exploited, but it seems like there should be some way to quantify the educational value of these kinds of internships. I am looking into starting a school-based gardening/business project where students sell their crops at a local farmer's market. Would I then be the “illegal intern” in my volunteer capacity at their for-profit venture?

]]> By: Jen Boyntonhttp://www.triplepundit.com/2010/02/farming-internships-vital-or-illegal-the-answer-is-both/comment-page-1/#comment-24062 Jen Boynton Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:43:12 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/?p=26138#comment-24062 I'm guessing that this regulation comes from a good place- not wanting vulnerable students to be taken advantage of. There are so many companies that offer unpaid internships, and in most cases, they are technically illegal. I'm all in favor of protecting vulnerable populations- but perhaps there should be waivers for farms of a certain size. I'm guessing that this regulation comes from a good place- not wanting vulnerable students to be taken advantage of. There are so many companies that offer unpaid internships, and in most cases, they are technically illegal. I'm all in favor of protecting vulnerable populations- but perhaps there should be waivers for farms of a certain size.

]]> By: Jess @OpenlyBalancedhttp://www.triplepundit.com/2010/02/farming-internships-vital-or-illegal-the-answer-is-both/comment-page-1/#comment-24061 Jess @OpenlyBalanced Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:27:23 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/?p=26138#comment-24061 This seems so absurd to me from a volunteer/intern standpoint. Who are they to tell me that I can't show up and offer to work for free? I guess you could just call yourself a "friend of the family" and don't sign any sort of written agreement. This seems so absurd to me from a volunteer/intern standpoint. Who are they to tell me that I can't show up and offer to work for free? I guess you could just call yourself a “friend of the family” and don't sign any sort of written agreement.

]]> By: strauscomhttp://www.triplepundit.com/2010/02/farming-internships-vital-or-illegal-the-answer-is-both/comment-page-1/#comment-24060 strauscom Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:45:59 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/?p=26138#comment-24060 Provocative Q: are unpaid farm internships vital or illegal? @bamco's young farmer mulls conundrum for small farms:http://tinyurl.com/y8zll2a Provocative Q: are unpaid farm internships vital or illegal? @bamco's young farmer mulls conundrum for small farms:http://tinyurl.com/y8zll2a

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