Work deserves wages, and the fight isn’t over.

You land what seems like the perfect internship. The job description sounds exciting, the company has a great reputation and you’re eager to gain hands-on experience. After all, internships are meant to be a key part of a Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) program, which helps students bridge the gap between academics and industry. But then—boom! The dreaded words appear: unpaid internship. Excuse me? In this economy? The idea that young professionals should pour their time, skills and energy into a job for nothing but “experience” isn’t just outdated—it’s a scam, a grift and a full-on heist.

In today’s world, where rent is sky-high and avocado toast isn’t the only thing draining our wallets, working for free feels like a cruel joke. Unpaid internships are like a bad magic trick—you’re promised valuable experience, but the only thing that disappears is your time and energy. It’s not just unfair; it undermines the very purpose of WIL programs, which should provide accessible, structured and meaningful career development.

These unpaid internships create a “pay-to-play” system, leaving those with less financial cushion out in the cold. It’s time to call out this never-ending saga. Now let’s break it down why an unpaid internship is a no-go:

The “experience” excuse is tired

Companies love to hit us with the “valuable experience” argument, as if exposure pays rent or covers student loans. Spoiler: it doesn’t. The reality is, if a company needs work done and that work has value, the company should compensate the person doing it. Period.

Real-world experience is important, sure, but it should never come at the cost of financial stability. If anything, companies should be investing in the next generation of workers, not exploiting them for free labour.

Who can even afford an unpaid internship?

Let’s be real. Unpaid internships disguise a privilege as an opportunity. Only those who can afford months without a paycheck can take them. That means students from lower-income backgrounds often get locked out of crucial career-building experiences while wealthier peers glide ahead.

The system rigs the game, and it’s time to call it out. Let’s not forget that many unpaid internships are in expensive cities where the cost of living is already sky-high. How exactly is someone supposed to afford rent, food and transportation while working for free? The math isn’t mathing.

The “just be grateful” guilt trip

Ever heard the classic “you should be grateful for the opportunity” line? Companies act like they’re doing interns a favour, when in reality, interns are providing labour.

If you need coffee runs and spreadsheets handled, you need an employee, not an unpaid assistant living off instant noodles and vibes. This mentality creates a toxic cycle where young professionals feel obligated to accept unfair working conditions just to get their foot in the door. And let’s not even start on the emotional toll—constantly undervaluing someone can seriously impact their confidence and motivation.

The ripple effect on careers

Unpaid internships don’t just affect individuals. They impact entire industries. By normalizing unpaid labour at the entry level, companies devalue the profession as a whole.

If the expectation is that young workers should work for free, it sets a precedent that makes fair wages harder to negotiate later on. It also means companies get away with not investing in training or mentorship, instead relying on an endless cycle of free labour. The result? Burnt-out, disillusioned young professionals struggling to break into their fields with nothing to show for their hard work.

How do we demand better?

The good news? People are pushing back. More students and young professionals are refusing to accept unpaid positions. Social media has amplified the conversation and some companies are feeling the heat. Here’s how we keep the pressure on:

• Call it out: Question why an internship isn’t compensated and make it the norm. If a company can afford salaries, they can afford intern stipends.
• Know your worth: Experience is great, but your time and skills have value. Don’t settle for exposure when you should be earning money.
• Support fair workplaces: Apply to and uplift companies that compensate their interns. Shout them out. Make ethical employment the standard.
• Advocate for policy changes: Support legislation that makes unpaid internships illegal or requires businesses to provide fair compensation. The more we push for systemic change, the harder it becomes for companies to keep exploiting free labour.

We’re over it!

Unpaid internships? We’re absolutely over it. The workforce is evolving rapidly and it’s time for companies to adapt to the changing landscape. It’s no longer acceptable to expect talented individuals to work for free, especially when the cost of living continues to rise.

Students deserve to be compensated for their time and work—period. That’s why we’re excited to invite you to support IGNITE’s Work-Integrated Learning – Time is Money campaign! Join the Time is Money campaign to stand up for fair compensation in WIL programs. You can share stories online that will be compiled and shared with decision-makers to push for real change. Let’s make compensation the standard. 

We deserve more than empty promises and unfair practices. Until companies step up and offer fair compensation for all work, we’ll be here, raising our voices and demanding better. Because let’s be real—offering free labour in this economy? That’s a hard pass, and it’s about time businesses get the message.

Feature image courtesy of Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash.

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