Michael Schmidt, vice chair of Cozen O'Connor's Labor & Employment department, was quoted in The Baltimore Sun, discussing the new federal guidelines that affect intern programs. “The new federal rule has provided much more of a flexible test for employers, which is probably better for employers across the board,” he said. It’s still unclear how the changes will affect intern programs, Schmidt said, particularly because state labor laws can differ from the federal guidelines. Maryland uses the same test as the federal guidelines for paid versus unpaid internships, except in the case of work-study programs. Schmidt believes the new rules could have far-reaching implications. Businesses worried about complying could stop hiring interns rather than run afoul of the law. But others could reexamine their programs and restructure them to comply.
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