HBO's Insecure might need to compensate Issa's unpaid intern

If you've watched HBO's hit Insecure, you may be wondering how Issa's "intern" is being compensated. The TV show provides a good jumping-off point for considering the issues faced by employers that don't pay interns.

No health insurance and no pay

Because of the lack of televised sporting events during the pandemic, I've recently been reduced to catching up on shows that had been collecting dust in my various watch lists. One of those shows is HBO's hit comedy Insecure, which follows Issa, an African-American woman, as she navigates the highs and lows of her professional and personal life, all while managing her own insecurities and living in the heart of Los Angeles.

During one episode, Issa pulls together a block party meant to celebrate and showcase black-owned businesses and talent within her community. On the day of the party, we meet Quoia, a young black woman Issa introduces as her intern. Quoia quickly responds by correcting Issa and informing the vendor that she is Issa's executive assistant.

Toward the end of the episode, after hosting an otherwise successful block party, Issa has another conversation with Quoia, who appears to have suffered an injury to her nose. Before she drives off, Issa encourages her to seek medical attention. Quoia quickly notes she doesn't have health insurance, after which Issa concedes she doesn't pay Quoia and therefore can't police her.

The two scenes grabbed my attention since unpaid internships have come under real-life scrutiny in recent years.

Federal and state guidance on unpaid internships