VERO BEACH – College students looking for on-the-job training to complete internship requirements could have a chance with the City of Vero Beach.
The Vero Beach City Council recently approved a formal policy for its internship program, which establishes the framework for the city and the intern – their responsibilities and expectations. “I think it’s going to help out our citizens who go off to school and come back for the summer and get involved in city government,” Mayor Kevin Sawnick said at the council meeting. “Get them involved in the process. You know, help out the city and help out their future career plans.”
Vero Beach City Manager Jim Gabbard had asked the city’s Human Resources Director Robert Anderson to craft the policy after his office had received inquiries from interested students.
Mayor Kevin Sawnick, too, has expressed interest in the program, noting that when he goes to speak at schools, the question often is raised.
The city currently has funded two internship positions in its Geographic Information Systems Division, which last approximately one semester and entails eight hours a week from the interns, according to Anderson.
The city also has one unpaid internship in the engineering department, which is currently filled by a graduate student.
Anderson said that the city must follow stricter guidelines when offering unpaid internships, due to the Fair Labor Standards Act. In order to offer an unpaid internship, the work the intern does must be to the benefit of the intern and not the city, he said.
“The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the trainees, and on occasion the employer’s operations may actually be impeded,” reads one component of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
The city, interns and the interns’ faculty coordinator at their school are expected to sign a letter of agreement that spells out the expectations of each of the three parties.
Becoming an Intern:
An internship is a one-time, curriculum-related work assignment, which may be paid or unpaid depending on the department and what is required of the student for the position.
Each intern position will have a written job description describing the duties of the position and the qualifications necessary to perform those duties. Each internship shall comprise one or more projects to be completed by the intern.
Each applicant for an internship shall submit a completed City of Vero Beach employment application and a signed release to conduct background and/or credit checks.
Each applicant for an internship shall undergo a background check, physical examination and drug screen prior to being offered an internship.
Each person selected for an internship shall receive a written offer letter detailing the terms and conditions of the internship.