Tips for Employers Rethinking Internship Offers
Tesla’s decision to rescind its internships just weeks before students were to begin them gives employers insight into what to do—and not do—when weighing whether to walk back such offers.
It’s important to consider the effect on current and future employees as well as the potential for harm to the company’s brand.
Employers that withdraw internships late in the process “will end up paying with their reputation, trust, and potentially respect in the market,” said Annie Rosencrans, director of people and culture at HiBob, an HR tech platform with U.S. headquarters in New York City.
“Gen Z has lost trust in companies, and it’s clear why,” she said. “They came of age in the workplace in the height of the pandemic, when companies were announcing layoffs, going on hiring sprees, and then laying off staff again.
“On top of that, companies have flip-flopped on flexible work policies, making this generation of workers feel as though many businesses do not care about their employees or their mental health, and companies that are transparent and culture-focused will be more attractive to this generation of workers.”
It also affects the teams counting on interns to provide additional output and removes management-training opportunities that overseeing an intern or intern class can provide someone readying for a management role.
Existing employees may well wonder if their job is next on the chopping block and leave before that happens—especially your best employees who will have lots of options, Dulski said.
For organizations faced with rescinding internship offers, here are some things to keep in mind: