Business Practices so Bad they should be Illegal in 2021, Part 1. Unpaid internships. If you don’t have work important enough to compensate for, you have no right to an intern. If you have worthwhile work and can’t afford $10 or $15 an hour, you haven’t demonstrated enough success to be a mentor. If you do have worthwhile work, successful enough to pay a small hourly rate, but don’t? Shame! Students and others starting out are already strapped for cash, incur expenses working for you for ‘free’, and pay the opportunity cost of not working elsewhere. Just say no to unpaid internships!