SOS: unpaid internship at for-profit company

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Illustrative scenario prepared by my practice.
For informational purposes only. This is not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.
Hypothetical question

Real talk: has anyone dealt with something like this in New Jersey? I'm not sure what my options are.

unpaid internship at for-profit company. I've been dealing with this for about 3 weeks now and the situation isn't improving fwiw.

I have worked at this company for 12 years. My position is exempt and I do not have a written employment agreement beyond the standard offer letter.

Am I overthinking this or is this a real legal issue worth pursuing?

Illustrative response

I went through almost the exact same thing.

Most folks screw this up by is escalating to a supervisor/manager. I'd recommend following the formal complaint procedure instead.

Illustrative response

Just want to point out — the statute of limitations might be a factor here. In some states it's as short as 1-2 years. Don't sit on this too long.

Illustrative response

Have you tried reaching out to your state's consumer protection office? They sometimes have free resources or mediation services.

Illustrative response

NAL, but from what I've read, you should file a complaint. Your mileage may vary depending on the specifics.

Illustrative response

Make sure you're within the statute of limitations for your state.

Illustrative response

Has anyone tried [reaching out to their legal department directly]?

Illustrative response

In my experience, most employers settle once they realize you're serious about pursuing this.