This paper aims to analyze Marx’s perspective on the exploitation of workers by employers in order to maximize profits, with a specific focus on the increasing prevalence of internships and unpaid labor. Marx argues that employers prioritize profit over selecting qualified employees based on their knowledge and skills.
Marx argues that the rise of intern labor represents a form of employer exploitation, as it allows them to exploit potential future employees. In Marx’s view, under capitalism, employers prioritize exploiting individuals rather than recognizing their abilities and expertise. Their primary aim is to achieve their own goals and objectives at the workers’ expense.
Organizations may not prioritize the development of employees’ skills or improving their performances (Hodson & Sullivan 2008). Interns often accept unpaid positions to gain valuable experience for future employers. Unfortunately, many organizations do not offer interns opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge; instead, they assign unrelated tasks and duties.
In the end, interns often leave the company or organization in the same state or even worse than when they started, as some lose hope (Cutler 2010). According to Marx, employers will go to great lengths to maximize their profits, including taking advantage of interns who may not demand payment since it reduces their labor cost. They are typically not concerned with the skills and knowledge possessed by employees, as long as working with interns helps increase their profits (Hesmondhalgh 2010).
Several governments have implemented labor laws and regulations to guarantee equitable remuneration for workers, preventing employers from exploiting them as they previously could. As per Marx’s perspective, this governmental supervision has resulted in the exploitation of potential employees through internships, enabling companies to avoid legal ramifications. Consequently, employers are inclined to exploit interns to enhance productivity without experiencing any legal consequences.
The rise of unpaid interns in the job market can be credited to the idea discussed by Hodson & Sullivan (2008) and Marx. As per Marx’s perspective, employers hold the power to take any necessary actions for the survival of their companies or organizations. Consequently, employees without authority are expected to unquestioningly adhere to rules and regulations.
Paid employees may have some power in decision-making within their companies or organizations, while interns have no power at all. Their sole purpose is to assist in achieving a company’s goals and objectives. As a result, regardless of how they are treated, interns must always respect the employer’s authority, as they will rely on their recommendation for potential permanent employment in the future.
Employers, on the other hand, take advantage of this situation, knowing that interns are obligated to comply (Hodson & Sullivan 2008). According to Marx, employers in society use their positions to prevent employees from advancing or improving their abilities and knowledge. They do this by denying them access to critical aspects of the production systems. In a capitalist society, this is done to ensure that employees remain dependent on their employers or masters.
The poor continue to be impoverished as the wealthy continue to amass greater wealth. Similarly, interns are often denied access to vital facets of an organization’s operations due to being perceived as peripheral members (Armin et al 2013).
Organizations utilize interns to fulfill their goals and aspirations, yet these individuals lack the chance to cultivate crucial skills for their future professional advancement. This contradicts Marx’s ideology of eradicating capitalism and establishing a society devoid of private property ownership (Cutler 2010). Furthermore, certain interns are obliged to work extensive hours without receiving compensation for their invaluable contributions.
The absence of job security is a significant worry for workers, who are afraid of being fired at any given time. Employers often prioritize their company’s profitability over improving working conditions, which aligns with Marx’s theory that employers exploit employees without considering their well-being. Furthermore, employers may take advantage of individuals seeking opportunities to gain experience.
The lack of legal protection leaves workers vulnerable to exploitation by their employers in their quest for success. Consequently, these employers gain numerous advantages at the expense of impoverished individuals who are simply striving for a better livelihood (Hodson & Sullivan 2008). Countless companies and organizations stress the necessity for job applicants to have a specified length of experience in their respective domains, before they are even considered for employment (Robinson 2013).
The problem is that even if interns show great potential, companies may still be reluctant to offer them a permanent job. They are more likely to replace the intern with another intern in order to save on labor expenses. This clearly indicates that their true intention is to reduce costs, despite claiming interest in hiring highly qualified individuals. Marx considered these factors when suggesting that employers are primarily focused on exploiting their workers (Hodson & Sullivan 2008).
In a capitalist society, employers will always desire dominance over employees, while employees yearn for more power and control in their roles to achieve desired outcomes. However, employers will seek to control every aspect of their jobs as a means of exerting their dominion. Unfortunately, interns have no power or control in their positions.
This also clarifies why they are not compensating for the services they provide. The increase in interns indicates that employers are seeking individuals whom they can take advantage of without consequence. No intern would willingly confront their employer because it would result in receiving a negative recommendation, which none of them can afford since it would significantly hinder their job search. The same applies to employees who are willing to accept low wages.
According to Cutler (2010), interns are required to work for any offer and must meet all employer demands in order to avoid being fired. They exert the same level of effort as regular employees, and there are even cases where they may exceed permanent employees’ performance, despite not receiving any compensation (Osnowitz 2010). This unequal distribution of resources is one of the factors that Marx opposes in capitalism.
He believes that certain individuals receive more than they deserve. For instance, there are people who inherit wealth from their parents and have a privileged life without earning it. Furthermore, he emphasized that hardworking individuals who strive to improve their living conditions sometimes become victims of a few affluent members in their society who prioritize personal social status. Consequently, the efforts of these diligent workers may go unrewarded as those who gain the most may not truly deserve such benefits.
Although individuals need skills and knowledge to access better job opportunities, they must use their current abilities to improve their lives. Sadly, those in power often obstruct this ability (Hesmondhalgh 2010). Some argue that interns shouldn’t be paid because they may lack the necessary skills for effective and efficient performance of their duties. It is the responsibility of the company or organization to offer training for interns to acquire these skills.
The truth is that interns should be the ones paying their companies or organizations, if there were established structures in place to improve their skills. However, most employers do not have these structures (Hodson & Sullivan 2008). According to Marx, employers advertise job openings with specific experience requirements in order to choose qualified candidates.
However, the skills are not utilized due to organizational structures that divide jobs into smaller parts, making it difficult for employees and interns to realize their potential. This is also the reason why they receive low wages.
The lack of payment for interns leads employers to hesitate in fully utilizing their abilities, out of concern that interns may request compensation. As a result, interns are not given tasks that would allow them to recognize their potential, ultimately undermining the purpose of an internship (Giddens 2010). Not only are interns exploited by their employers, but also by other permanent employees. Because interns do not financially contribute to the services they provide, they are often perceived as less valuable members of an organization or company.
Employees who receive payment perceive themselves as superior to interns and may even consider themselves as the employers of the interns. Consequently, they often delegate their tasks to interns after being assigned those tasks by employers. In line with Marx’s beliefs, individuals who possess power tend to perceive themselves as superior to others in society (Cheshkov, n. d).
The situation faced by interns while delivering their roles could be seen as a form of exploitation. Interns are being exploited in every angle and often have to seek internships from multiple companies to acquire the necessary skills for permanent employment (Seligson 2013). In recent times, organizations and companies have resorted to using financial incentives to motivate their employees towards achieving desired performance levels.
The purpose of doing this was also to ensure the employees maintain a strong dedication to the company’s growing concern. In the past, organizations would use threats to ensure commitment, but this is no longer effective as employees may not be motivated enough. Marx referred to these employer threats as exploitation. (Hodson & Sullivan, 2008)
The reason for employees’ compliance is the use of force. Interns also feel threatened, which explains why they may work without pay. They willingly take on assigned roles and duties because not doing so can harm their career development (Cheshkov, n. d).
To address employer exploitation, it is crucial to have laws that protect the rights of interns. Marx argued that without such legislation, employers would exploit their workers and prioritize their own interests over those of their employees. The continued exploitation of workers by employers remains a major concern, especially in developing nations.
Nevertheless, the passage of time brings about changes. The emergence of interns has once again provided employers with an opportunity to exploit their workers, in line with Marx’s argument (Hodson; Sullivan 2008). It is essential for internships to be acknowledged as employment so as to dissuade employers from engaging in practices that may seem exploitative towards interns.
Regarding the need for laws in employment legislations, it is essential to include provisions that protect interns from being misused or exploited (Hodson ; Sullivan 2008). This also applies to the bill of rights in order to ensure that interns are respected and their services are duly compensated. Governments should establish a minimum wage for interns and document the payment for their work.
This is the only way employers will stop using low wages to be able to cut on their labor costs hence high profitability (Cutler, 2010). Marx concluded that the wealthy people in the society, who are also the employers, exploit their employees by utilizing their position on the market. Employers seek employees not to maximize their potential but to ensure high returns on investments. The number of interns has been progressively increasing in recent years.
Marx could have easily concluded that employers exploit interns as a means to reduce labor costs and consequently increase profits. Interns often miss out on important learning opportunities that could enhance their skills. There are instances where interns may leave the organization having learned nothing, as they are sometimes assigned tasks that are unrelated to their area of study.
