2nd Circ. May Determine Fate Of Internship Programs

Partner John Thompson was quoted in an Law360 article entitled “2nd Circ. May Determine Fate Of Internship Programs.”

The wave of wage-and-hour class actions lodged by unpaid interns has spurred some companies to get rid of their internship programs.

With the 2nd Circuit now agreeing to weigh in on cases against Fox Entertainment Group Inc. and Hearst Corp., attorneys say more interns could be sent packing. Conde Nast made headlines in October when it announced that it was getting rid of its internship program after being smacked with a lawsuit by former unpaid interns in June.

With so much litigation now surrounding internship programs, employers may opt to avoid them anyway.

“It will be riskier or less risky depending on what the 2nd Circuit does, but other than what it might mean for employers in the 2nd Circuit, I don't expect there to be a sea change,” said John. “It will have some influence outside the 2nd Circuit, but I don't expect it to cause people to reintroduce internships they have decided not to have or to feel emboldened to have internships just because of what the 2nd Circuit says.”