Reading an article in SMH recently entitled “Generation what now?” got me thinking about our Corporate Social Responsibility here in Australia.
We readily come out and voice our disgust at the way workers are treated in countries like Bangladesh and yet it is quite OK here in Australia to “intern” Generation Y and pay them nothing. Our excuse – they are earning their way to a paid job. So we pay them nothing and expect them to work really hard so they “deserve” a job. Yet these same interns are helping the company they work in to be profitable and productive and yet they earn nothing.
Instead these young interns have to turn to parents and sacrifice independence to survive. All the traits they are belittled for and yet we are creating the culture that makes it the only way for them to survive.
One young woman in the article said:
“It’s so tough trying to make ends meet and get a foothold in the industry that four months after moving out of home the 23 year old is considering moving back. “Then I can focus on building my career and doing all the internships you have to do to get that paid job””.
What are we doing? How is this conscionable?
I recall my daughter working from 7:00 am until 10:00 pm as an “intern” to gain experience – told to bring her own car and had to drive all over Sydney picking things up for “very important” people – she paid for her petrol, bought all her own food and received plenty of experience!
What kind of corporate values are we espousing to the people who will lead us into the future? Let’s wake up and do better by our own youth in this country!! Let’s teach them about the value of money in an honourable and fair way.
