Is archaeology using interns and is this and acceptable practice?

[Wax]

Your are right Oxbeast the community side has to extra to the worked needed to meet the requirements of the archaeological mitigation that is part of the planning conditions. Though in theory there is no reason why the community involvement could not be part of the planning requirement (public benefit). Though the clients archaeological consultant might argue that it is unreasonable

[trowelfodder]

Community involvement is not the same as taking on unpaid staff to do a job you need them to do and that you are being paid for!

There needs to be a clear idea of what the community is and what the outcomes of the project are - it seems a little self serving if the outcome is to train up an archaeology graduate to continue to work for you for free in the desperate hope they may someday get work

[Sith]

Can an intern claim unemployment benefits? I know this can be an issue with voluntary work but as long as you are available for work when it comes up, can prove you are looking for it and the organisation who is taking you on as a volunteer is willing to put it in writting that this is the case you are entitled to your benefits.

Based on recent news stories the answer is 'yes' but only if you agree to work for Tossco.

[kevin wooldridge]

There is a useful Direct Gov page on volunteering whilst receiving benefits. It seems providing you inform your benefit provider in advance it should be possible (if you receive JSA and Housing Benefit you need to contact both departments)

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommu.../DG_064299

However there is a caveat that would seem to rule 'intern' type work out..... If you choose not be paid for any work you do this is not the same as volunteering. The wage you would normally receive could be counted as ‘notional earnings’. If you receive an income-related benefit, such as Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance, Housing or Council Tax benefit, it could affect the benefits you receive.

[trowelfodder]

How does this fit into the BAJR wage structure - if the wage is ?0 for any position in a company that advertises here then will they be stopped from posting? Or will the IFA strike them off for paying below the agreed minimum? :face-stir:

Am kind of joking but not entirely - is more a question of how can this be stopped from spreading right through the industry and eroding away the advancements of the last few years? What can we do?

[P Prentice]

I've been following this thread with some interest, so decided to finally register and attempt to contribute.

I recently spotted a large commercial unit offering 'volunteer opportunities' as part of their commitment to 'widening access to heritage and archaeology'. This can include site work, but only non-skilled work 'including shovelling, barrowing and hoeing'' unless the PO feels sorry for you and throws you a posthole now and again.
To work on an excavation you would need to provide your own waterproofs and safety boots, although a viz vest and trowel are given to you on loan after a tenner deposit is dutifully handed over. Accomodation? Afraid not, but there are 'hotels, B&Bs and campsites close to our.........office and most excavation sites'. Hotels?? Oh and transport to/from site? Forget it.

Public outreach is very important, but is it simply being used as an excuse to use unpaid labour on developer-funded projects? It's not simply about involving local communities, the unit clearly states 'We have provided opportunities for local, national and international volunteers.' It's also not a recent development, this unit appears to have been taking on volunteers in these roles since at least 2008.

Apologies if it's old news to anyone, but I couldn't believe the cheek when I saw it out there in the open!

this is nothing new - units of more than one, particulalrly local authority units, have been offering such opportunities for donkeys (years). sometimes a good way to get into uni, sometimes a good way to get a job.

[archresearcher]

I've only just come across this thread and think it's about time that these issues are being raised. I graduated in 2008 and then undertook a year long PG degree to make myself 'more appealing' to employers. I have since undertaken numerous volunteer roles/ 'voluntary work placements' to gain more skills and knowledge of various archaeological employment routes (not only commercial archaeology). During this time I have worked outside of the archaeology field because I have no other option, bills need paying and bank of mum and dad only goes so far (I should state that 3/4 years after gratuation I am still living with parents because I can't afford not to).

Last summer I accepted a Grampus Heritage placement to spend 2 months on excavation abroad to increase my digging skills and build towards that '6 months experience' threshold. To do this I had to give up my non-archaeological day job but since returning I have not been able to find work. So I gave up my source of income to improve my archaeology experience to land in a position worse than what I started with. I now have a CV that is considered 'very attractive' with a wealth of various voluntary positions making me a 'catch' to anyone wanting to take on volunteers but not to employ?
To me there should be paid intern positions offered not only by commerical units but also in other areas of archaeology so that graduates can have a chance to get a foot in the door because eventually people will move out of archaeology for better paid jobs or move into retirement but without training fresh graduates at the bottom end of the spectrum who will replace the specialists once they move on?

[Unitof1]

[SIZE=3]I couldn't believe the cheek when I saw it [/SIZE][SIZE=3]out there in the open!

[/SIZE]
Don?t fall for the archaeologist is a professional who earns their money by using their knowledge because no one else is allowed.

The vast majority of members of the ifa/cba service the public. The model is that they get paid to enable the public to enjoy archaeology. Enjoying archaeology includes doing archaeology so they have to have people doing archaeology for free. Whats odd is that archaeologists seem to have tried to not see the ?public? as something to be exploited. Should be a university course in its own right. Really when you come out of university after having exploited your family to support you, all archaeologists should immediately attempt to create a cult of mug voluntterrs around them especially from all the vulnerable parts of society and milk them for everything that they are worth. Would almost suggest that if you don?t you are not anarchaeologist. It should be made a requisite of ifa membership. There should be rates like a tenner upfront to wash pot for half a day plus supply me with buscuits.

Currently I seem to have exhausted my little old ladies and having to rely on god squaders but this tescos job seekers seems to me to have the smell of the old manpower services pretend digging is archaeology scam about it. It appears that you can get eightweeks ?work? out of them but what would be more interesting is what is tescos paid the take them on. Does anybody know? Has any body tired it yet? I have a feeling that in the small print one man bands will not beallowed any of the dash.

[kevin wooldridge]

Whats odd is that archaeologists seem to have tried to not see the “public” as something to be exploited. Should be a university course in its own right. Really when you come out of university after having exploited your family to support you, all archaeologists should immediately attempt to create a cult of mug voluntterrs around them especially from all the vulnerable parts of society and milk them for everything that they are worth.

I guess if you make mugs of us all U?1, we can at least look forward to the day you are all washed-up!!

[Unitof1]

as I said a tenner and you can wash my pot. But seriously how many volliiyretter worker employees who you dont pay should anybody have before you can call yourself an archaeologist. should there be some scale? Maybe an unemployed graduate should have between 5 and 10 before they can apply for practitioner.