Sandberg’s nonprofit org backs away from unpaid intern ad

Online critics slammed the Lean In Foundation for seeking unpaid workers when much of its focus is on demanding fair pay for women.

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That’s part of the reason why a Facebook post from the Foundation’s editor-at-large, Jessica Bennett, seeking an unpaid intern, raised lots of eyebrows this week. By Thursday, the foundation had to publicly address the matter and “share the facts.”

Bennett’s initial post read:

Wanted: Lean In editorial intern, to work with our editor (me) in New York. Part-time, unpaid, must be HIGHLY organized with editorial and social chops and able to commit to a regular schedule through the end of the year. Design and web skills a plus! HIT ME UP! Start date ASAP.

The comments on the post that aren’t angry are mostly mocking, though a handful do support unpaid internships.

Here’s what commenter Andrew Langille said:

On behalf of the intern rights movement thanks a bunch for advertising that position. You gave us a lot of free advertising in what’s traditionally a slow news month. All the best and in the future remember to pay your interns.

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