Summer Internships Prove Deadly

A young man from Germany who was an intern for the Bank of America recently died. While the results of his autopsy have yet to be released, some say his death was caused by the numerous hours that he worked during his seven-week internship.  They claim that the University of Michigan student along with the other interns in the office regularly worked 12 to 14 hours a day. Apparently this is pretty common.  This article provides a bit more detail.

This isn't the first time we've heard this.  It concerns me because these practices are widespread and have become standard operating procedure. Creating a solid career path at one of these high visible organizations takes blood, sweat and tears and if you can't keep up there will always be someone ready to step on you to take your place.

With the unemployment rate for this age group is high of over 12% I can understand the willingness to work these ungodly hours.  I also know about peer pressure.  You can't be looked at as the team member if you don't pull your weight.

Companies and universities need to reevaluate their policies and stop condoning this kind behavior.  Companies also need to step up and stop shelling out the meal, travel and overtime allowances.  They need to stop looking at it like a competition. What happened to the work life balance policies that they all outwardly push? What happened to project planning?  What happened to corporate accountability and responsibility?  It all comes down to these AND the fact that since this whole economic mess started, companies are making due with a leaner workforce. 
Unfortunately, that workforce is human and as we've seen, human beings have limits.