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Federal And New York Minimum Wage Laws

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A Federal District Court judge in Manhattan ruled in June of 2013, that Fox Searchlight Pictures had violated federal and New York minimum wage laws by not paying production interns, it was a case that could radically affect the long-held practice of businesses to rely heavily on unpaid internships. The judge had decided that Fox Searchlight should have paid two interns on the movie “Black Swan,” because they were essentially regular employees. The interns were made to do basic chores usually done by paid employees. The interns were made to take lunch orders, answer phones, track purchase orders, and take out the trash. The judge noted that these internships did not provide an educational value and that the studio received the benefits of the work (Greenhouse). The “Black Swan” case epitomizes the recent trend in case of unpaid interns. Interns are used as “free labor” and being treated unfairly. The “Black Swan” case was the first in a series of lawsuits filed by unpaid interns. Internship is a period of work experience offered by an employer to give people (usually college students and graduates) exposure to the working environment. It gives them an opportunity to get first-hand experience. The growing need for practical learning led to the emergence of internship. It helps to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience. Internships in any form- paid, unpaid or co-operative learning has now become a standard practice for college students. It has

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