So, collegiettes, there’s good news and bad news.
The Good News
The state of Connecticut is on it’s way to pass a new law guaranteeing unpaid interns adequate protection from both sexual harassment and sexual discrimination. So what’s the big deal? Isn’t that a given in most states? Unfortunately, no.
The Bad News
If Connecticut’s bill passes, it will be joining only six other states with similar protection laws.
When lawmakers were asked about the bill, they expressed surprise at the fact that such legal rights were not already available to unpaid interns. So did we!
Even worse, many of the states that do offer protection only specify protection for sexual harassment or sexual discrimination, and not both. Such an oversight is frightening, which is why it’s best to be informed about the laws in your state prior to entering an unpaid position.
What You Need to Know
According to The Huffington Post, unpaid interns aren’t employees. At least, not by the standards of the Civil Rights Act, which oversees protective bodies such as the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. This means that unfortunately, individuals interning in states without protective laws may have a difficult time legally addressing issues of harassment and discrimination in the workplace.
If you live in California, Washington, New York, or D.C., you’re fully protected. Unpaid interns in Maryland are legally protected against sexual discrimination, but unfortunately Maryland’s law neglects to address sexual harassment. Unpaid interns in Illinois face the opposite dilemma: they’re protected from harassment and not discrimination.
Women are historically more likely to experience harassment and discrimination in the workplace, which dangerously coincides with the fact that the majority of unpaid interns are women. With instances of inappropriate behavior in the workplace being far too common for comfort, it’s clear that change has to be made.