The Center for Emerging Professionals introduces a campaign dedicated to informing all generations of architects about the value Emerging Professionals bring to the field and the importance of getting paid for internship hours. — aia.org
Responding to ongoing debates regarding unpaid internships and the devaluing of the profession, the AIA has launched a new educational campaign called "Know Your Worth", to inform and publicize how architects should value themselves in today's profession.
In a pair of videos introducing the campaign, architects at SmithGroupJJR (Los Angeles), McGraw Bagnoli Architects (Washington, DC) and Klimatic Architecture (Washington, DC) discuss the value of young and emerging professionals to the profession, and perhaps most importantly, present an unflinching view on unpaid internships – just don't do it. "If someone is in a situation where they're needing to argue about whether or not they should be paid, my advice would be to walk away from the situation," said Laura Ondrich, Architect at SmithGroupJJR, in below's "Value Your Work" video by the AIA.
Emerging professionals deserve compensation because they provide a unique and integral addition to firms: "Every new class of interns does bring a new perspective on what's going on in schools and the world in a more broad way, that we benefit from," says Troy D. Thompson, AIA Managing Partner at SmithGroupJJR. Investing in emerging professionals, developing their skills and establishing firm loyalty, is essential to firms' survival through later generations. As Susan Schafer Kliman, Principal at Klimatic Architecture, put it: "If we care about architecture and architects and what we bring to a project, we need to make sure that we have the continuity of the profession and that means valuing the interns and paying them what they're worth."
For the AIA, the unpaid internship is a black and white issue: "Fair Labor Standards Act... requires employers to compensate their employees, you basically have to pay at least a minimum wage for the work that they provide," says Terrence F. Canela, Deputy General Counsel for the AIA, in the below "Value our Future" video. On top of the FLSA, AIA has its own code of ethics to hold firms accountable. But realistically, within individual firm cultures, compensating interns and emerging professionals in general still operates in a grey area. The apprentice culture is what keeps the profession going – some see it as an excuse to not pay, other see it as an obligation to do so. The AIA campaign comes down firmly on the latter's side.
The "Know Your Worth" campaign also includes a salary calculator, for architects to survey pay-grades based on the data collected from the AIA's 2015 Compensation Survey. Archinect has an on-going similar effort, "The Architecture Salary Poll", where architects globally can submit their salary info anonymously, and view sorted results.
19 Comments
As far as I'm concerned, this is the wrong issue for the AIA to tackle, and "prove" to the emerging talent that we care. It's smoke and mirrors. The real issue is emerging professional development, and IDP, or whatever NCARB is calling it this month. That's the debate. No one is going to debate not paying interns.
Ken, I think you are right that there isn't much of a debate here regarding compensating employees. I disagree that the point of this is debate though. I also disagree that this is smoke and mirrors. Emerging professionals are not getting the type of support they need early on in their careers to stand up for themselves when it comes to things like this. It may be simple lip service from the AIA, but the reality is that this will make some emerging professionals question an offer for an unpaid internship. That in and of itself might be enough support an emerging professional will need to turn it down.
Despite the comments in other threads, emerging professionals do look toward the AIA. It might be because they don't know any better, but to someone new in the profession, AIA and NCARB are the two biggest acronyms they know. Seeing them take stands on valuing your worth, work, and title is a big deal for someone who doesn't yet have the confidence to stand up for themselves. While this isn't anything new ... the AIA code of ethics, labor laws, etc. already take a stand on it, but this does shine a light on the issue in a medium that will be seen by emerging professionals. Kudos to the AIA.
What's the debate about IDP and emerging professional development?
Everyday, not paying interns is an important issue, but the legalities seem pretty straightforward, and in this day and age, if you are firm still doing that, you should be flogged in the piazza.
IDP and development is the larger, unspoken, and often hidden problem, and the AIA, of which I am a member, does little or nothing to address this problem. You know, and I know, and nearly every other intern knows this is a problem; how many interns are getting the required time, in all of the areas required to complete IDP? I know many, have heard too many complaints, that interns get stuck doing cad/revit, and get almost no experience with contracts, negotiations, CA, etc....Often times the IDP timesheets are filled with shady information, little to no audits - of firms, or interns - which then makes the process about paperwork filing, and paying lip service to corrupted process, which ultimately cheats everyone in the profession.
The reason no one talks about it, is because it means that there would need to be accountability by the profession, and we don't do accountability. I keep saying; carrot and stick. The interns get the stick, the short end, and member firms get all the carrots.
I like where your head is at. However, flogging firms in the piazza probably isn't something that the AIA will support; too much potential money coming in from dues at the firm level. I think the bottom up approach to this issue is what will ultimately have an effect, and that means getting emerging professionals to realize they should never take an unpaid internship.
This campaign also helps shed the light on what an equitable salary is depending on experience and location (salary calculator), something that in the past was done by knowing where/who to ask or having to pay for the compensation report yourself. This should help emerging professionals negotiate salaries that are commensurate with experience, rather than taking a "paid" internship that only offers a meager stipend or something like that.
I also see your point about firms supporting IDP and professional development, or the lack thereof. I've seen both sides of that and have commented on it in the past. I haven't focused on it much lately because I fortunately am in a good position in a good firm that does support me. Not all aspiring architects find themselves in such a good position however.
I will say that if you aren't concerned about firms paying interns because of the AIA Code of Ethics, etc. then you shouldn't be so concerned about firms supporting IDP (check out Canon V). The difference is there is not a legal course to take for lack of IDP support.
I am concerned about interns getting paid.
IDP is required, in most states, and you can't sit for an exam, in many states, until you've completed it - yes, I know in many states you can take the exam then complete IDP - and that's where the problem lies. I know all about V, if the AIA changed the "should" to a "shall" and back up the "shall" with some punitive punishment, then we're on to something.
AIA can't issue punitive punishment. This has to be done at the licensing board. AIA isn't a government entity.
We have to restrict unpaid internship in conduct laws of the licensing board.
The Bylaws of the Institute state procedures for the enforcement of the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. Such procedures provide that:
(1) Enforcement of the Code is administered through a National Ethics Council, appointed by the AIA Board of Directors.
(2) Formal charges are filed directly with the National Ethics Council by Members, components, or anyone directly aggrieved by the conduct of the Members.
(3) Penalties that may be imposed by the National Ethics Council are:
(a) Admonition
(b) Censure
(c) Suspension of membership for a period of time
(d) Termination of membership
I'd say those are quite punitive.
AIA is a private organization, they charge fees, they could do whatever they want, within their own rules - so long as it's legal.
I should've written; punitive measures.
We are talking about PUNITIVE PUNISHMENT.
Those above are not punitive. Those four 'penalties' are more a joke than they are of something that could influence change in an architectural employer's conduct.
AIA can not legally impose real punitive punishment because only the courts and government agencies are legally authorized to impose.
To a real offending architect, you think that architect is really going to give a flip over admonition or censure or suspension or termination of membership. Oh wow... they won't have to pay those annual membership dues. Seriously?
The kinds of punitive punishment with any power is suspension of architectural license. AIA can not suspend a person's license. A licensing board or a court order could. Fines... um... AIA tried that. It failed because the architect just would terminate membership and not pay. AIA can't collect it, either because AIA membership agreement terminates upon termination of membership and paying those dues terminates right then and there and it becomes too costly to collect.
Imprisonment. AIA doesn't have authority to imprison. Neither does the licensing boards but the courts do.
The four punishments from the AIA would be more a 'hahaha'.
Basically the same as you find with AIBD. I could be decertified if I was certified and lose the license to use 'certified professional building designer' or CPBD acronym as use would be a trademark violation and that's federal laws we are talking about. Same as the AIA acronym, trademarks, etc.
So what, I don't use the title. Think about that for a moment. Real punishment has real power to effect change of conduct.
Ok... punitive measures.... hmm... AIA is limited. It's a slap on the wrist. Establish conduct rules by the licensing boards regarding unpaid internships.
I'm not going to follow you down the rabbit hole Balkins. Suffice it to say, the AIA already has measures, penalties, fines that you may or may not see as punitive, but somehow those member firms that pay a fee for every licensed member, and every licensed non member of the AIA are still member firms. They must see a benefit, beyond paying fees and that's why they stay. I'm sure the shame that comes with public censure, termination, or suspension is not something to brag about.
Your suggestion that to impose any kind hammer for bad behavior, or behaviour detrimental to the profession, which not educating emerging professionals is, would just have the offending professional leave our organization, then I say good riddance.
As for architecture boards, yes they can take action, and they do. Being an architect is not a right, it's a privilege, if you fail to pay taxes, you're fined and admonished, if your license lapses, fined and suspended, if you are convicted of a crime, the same. So, I imagine, if you flout labor laws then the same will happen. However, these are in the realm of legal discourse, and not providing interns with required experience I gather would not be in the legalistic purview, but the professional societies that govern our profession.
"Emerging professionals are not getting the type of support they need early on in their careers to stand up for themselves when it comes to things like this."
Everyday Intern, just using quote to make a point and I agree with most of what Ken you and are saying.
This statement is an oxymoron, to a degree.
Every architect I know who successfully started their firms in NYC were kind of thrown into the fire at one point in their career or just tired of the same old and took the leap, there is NO support other than yourself to make yourself emerge as a professional. This is somewhat the definition of a professional.
Maybe I took your statement too literal, I think what is better to point out is that we should be 'properly training' our young architects not just in the profession but all the way back to academia.
The irony of not paying interns, is that the intern is often the only person in the office with any skills that matter - CAD, Revit, Grasshopper (questionable skill), rendering. Skills.
What happens in this profession is the equivalent of a Welder being ask to weld for free on the Freedom Tower because it will look good on their resume. You kids should just not do it.
I interviewed at Eisenman's office nearly 15 years ago and literally tried to bargain the following "I can render but I want to learn about CD's", the interviewer gave me a weird look.
...
Chris, I agree with much of what you are saying, however there is a bit of a paradox isn't there? The AIA likes to tout the numbers of small firms, but many of the small firms I've worked for, don't use AIA contracts, and the exams make endless reference to AIA contracts, and yet, in the smaller firms, it's likely the place where you will get thrown into the fire. Fuck, of all fucks‽
Truth is, any firm of scale - numbering above 7 [arbitrary number] - you'll likely not touch a contract as an intern.
Chris, I do get what you are saying, but I wonder if I might be reading into your comment too literally as well. I hope you are not trying to say that going out on your own or starting your own firm is what makes someone a professional.
Isn't one of the purposes of professional organizations like the AIA to support their membership? Isn't this why they have committees and newsletters and conventions, etc? Yes, I do think there is a level of taking a leap, or being put to the fire, when it comes to being a professional, but I don't think that remains exclusive of support from organizations, employers, co-workers, consultants, etc.
Ken, as an intern I touch contracts all the time. I'll admit I'm in a unique job position most interns wouldn't find themselves in, but it wouldn't preclude one from doing the type of work I do. This should not be limited to those negotiating the contracts and those making edits to them with the AIA software.
A big portion of any firm's work is going to be devoted to creating a contract for construction (CDs) and administering that contract (CA). A fundamental understanding of the contracts is vital to performing those services well. Firms would be doing a huge favor to the future of the profession if they would allow interns to get their hands dirty with the contracts earlier in their careers. Maybe not negotiating them or making edits to them, but at least understanding them and knowing why they are written they way they are and what it means for CDs and CA.
Ken,
Let me remind you that officially, the professional societies doesn't govern the profession. It is the licensing board and its consortium of licensing boards called NCARB.
If AIA is governing the profession then it would violate antitrust laws. Ultimately the profession is governed by the licensees and to a lesser extent (on the day to day), the general public. Most regulation affecting the profession is because of architects. However, AIA involves its influence on the legislation through its members who are often the kind that involves themselves politically.
Aside from that, we probably want to avoid going down the legalese 'rabbit hole'.
The AIA already has a Code of Conduct. It uses "should" and "shall", in order to "guide" professionals part of that professional association. It can easily change the "should" to a "shall" with regard to Canon V, and, we are back to where we started.
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