Overview

These guidelines outline expectations for employers engaging with UWF students and alumni through the Office of Career Development & Community Engagement (CDCE).

• Overview
• Fair Labor Standards Act
• Recruiting International Students
• Recruiting Students with Disabilities
• Utilizing Handshake
• General Usage and Recruitment
• Remote Work and Internships
• Commission, Sales, and Financial Industry Positions

Fair Labor Standards Act

Fact Sheet #71: Internship Programs Under the Fair Labor Standards Act

This fact sheet provides general information to help determine whether interns and students working for “for-profit” employers are entitled to minimum wages and overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Guidelines and information are from the US Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division website.

Recruiting International Students

Hiring one of our highly qualified international students need not be burdensome, as immigration laws relating to the most common immigration statuses of international students (F-1 and J-1) allow the University to authorize employment related to study. This employment may be comprised of one of the four forms below:

• Most international students may undertake internships during their studies by seeking approval with their academic advisor and applying with the UWF Office of International Affairs and receiving the Curricular Practical Training (CPT) benefit.
• Graduating international students who are in F-1 status are typically eligible for 12 months of full-time employment directly related to the major area of study through the Optional Practical Training (OPT) benefit. The student applies for this permission from the UWF Office of International Affairs and the United States Citizenship and Immigrations Services (USCIS). Upon approval, the student is issued an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), which the employer can use to verify employment eligibility. Students do not need a job offer for OPT. Students who graduate in certain STEM fields may have the opportunity to extend their OPT for a 24-month STEM OPT extension.
• International exchange students who have J-1 visa status may receive up to 18 months of Academic Training; a specific job offer is required for this permission, which is approved by the UWF academic department, UWF International Affairs, and the exchange student’s home institution.
• Employers may temporarily employ foreign nationals by submitting an H-1B petition to USCIS. This visa is for foreign workers who possess a highly specialized knowledge and possess a bachelor’s degree or higher.

BENEFITS TO EMPLOYERS:

• Minimal time and paperwork for the employer: All paperwork for F-1 and J-1 students is handled by the students and the school aside from I-9 completion. A company may, in fact, save more time by hiring international students because the majority of them are exempt from Social Security (FICA) and Medicare tax requirements.
• No cost: The only cost to the employer hiring international students is the time and effort to interview and select the best candidate for the job.
• Fresh perspectives and unique skills: International students can offer employers a wide range of skills and abilities, including valuable foreign language skills. 

Recruiting Students with Disabilities

CDCE recognizes that job seekers with disabilities comprise a key focus area for our employers’ recruitment strategies. As a result, we are dedicated to working closely with you to effectively connect with this population and meet your recruiting objectives.

Job Postings and Accommodations

• To save time in recruitment and to ensure that students with disabilities can perform job duties before they go through the application process, please provide clarity regarding the essential functions of positions in job announcements.
• In a world where technology is a necessary aspect of almost every business, physical ability is seldom a limitation. Assistive technology and other accommodations make it possible for people with a wide range of disabilities to be competitive in today’s labor market. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) requires that employers with 15 or more employees make reasonable accommodations in the workplace for employees with disabilities. Accommodations are to be made on a case-by-case basis and may not be required when costs create an undue hardship.

Benefits to Employers

Increased retention: Employees with disabilities have a lower turnover rate than non-disabled employees. In fact, employees with disabilities have a job retention rate of 85% after one year of employment.

Qualified employees: Employees with disabilities perform equally to employees without disabilities. A study of 250 supervisors indicates satisfaction with their employees with disabilities’ attendance and performance.

Economic advantage: Multiple tax credits are available including the Workforce Opportunity Tax Credits; Tax Deduction to Remove Architectural and Transportation Barriers to People With Disabilities and Elderly Individuals; and small businesses can take an annual tax credit of up to $5,000 to help make their products and services accessible to people with disabilities.

For more information on hiring students with disabilities and graduates, please contact the Student Accessibility Resources at 850.474.2387 or visit SAR's website.

Utilizing Handshake

The University of West Florida and Career Development and Community Engagement work with employers to post internships, cooperative education opportunities, volunteer and service experiences, as well as full-time and part-time jobs for UWF students and alumni. These opportunities, which shall be referred to as “employment” for the purposes of this agreement, are listed through Handshake.

• CDCE makes no particular recommendation regarding off-campus employers or agencies.
• Handshake is to be utilized to post employment opportunities only. Postings that incorporate advertisements of an organization’s goods or services will not be posted.
• The University is not responsible for the relationship between the student/alumni and the employer/agency.
• Some Handshake student profile information is self-reported. UWF students and alumni are expected to represent themselves accurately, but CDCE does not regulate student profiles.
• The University is not responsible for the safety, wages, or working conditions, or other aspects of off-campus employment or work-based or service experiences of the student/alumni.
• CDCE reserves the right to refuse to post jobs or provide services for employers that do not support the educational mission of the University.
• All positions are posted at the discretion of the CDCE staff. We will not post jobs that appear to discriminate against applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, marital status, national origin, religion, and veteran status.

General Usage and Recruitment

CDCE requires that employers abide by the National Association of Colleges and Employers Principles for Professional Conduct. Employer representatives who do not act in accordance with these guidelines could risk termination of access from recruitment and usage of services. 

Additionally, CDCE requires that employers:

• Use assessment tools and tests appropriately in the recruiting and hiring processes- Employment professionals engaged in administering, evaluating, and interpreting assessment tools, tests, and technology used in selection must be trained and qualified to do so. Employment professionals must advise students/alumni in a timely manner of the type and purpose of any test that students/alumni will be required to take as part of the recruitment process.
• Third-party recruiting agencies- If you are a third-party recruiter posting a job for a client, it is necessary to disclose the client name for which you are recruiting in the Job Description Box. All positions posted by third-party recruiters without the client's name will be deleted from the Handshake system. Third-party recruiters are eligible to participate in career events if they are recruiting for their own organization or if they state the organizations they are representing at the time of the fair.
• Non-Profit/Service Agency- Non-profit service agencies have access to Handshake to market full-time, internship, part-time, co-op, and volunteer opportunities.
  Temporary agencies or staffing services- Temporary agencies or staffing services are employers, not third-party recruiters, and will be expected to comply with the professional conduct principles set forth for employer professionals. These are organizations that contract to provide individuals qualified to perform specific tasks or complete specific projects for a client organization. Individuals perform work at the client organization but are employed and paid by the agency.
• Follow CDCE guidelines when working with external UWF departments- When employment professionals conduct recruitment activities through student associations or academic departments, such activities will be conducted in accordance with the CDCE policies.
• Follow CDCE event registration guidelines- Registration fees will be refunded if a cancellation request is received two (2) weeks or more prior to the event. If registration is canceled less than two (2) weeks prior to the event and payment has not been made, the registered organization will be held responsible for payment.

Remote Work and Internships

UWF has adopted the following policies regarding remote and work-from-home internships:

• In order for a remote internship to be posted in Handshake, the business must provide an email address, phone number, and web address. The position must include learning objectives and offer the student professional supervision for the duration of the internship. Additionally, the internship must meet the Fair Labor Standards Act requirements if it is unpaid.
• Internships requiring students to work from an employer’s residence will not be posted in Handshake.

Commission, Sales, and Financial Industry Positions

CDCE strives to provide information that will connect students to the best possible job opportunities. Due to varying employment, business and compensation models used by employers, UWF Career Services will exercise discretion in working with those employers that comply with our established policies and practices including policies with regard to commission positions as applicable. Commission based sales, full-time opportunities must comply with the following criteria:

• Direct Hire (W-2) positions only.
• 1099 positions are eligible for posting on Handshake but must include the following disclaimer in the posting:

“This position is not a direct hire (W-2) position and will result in the receipt of a 1099 tax form. Persons paid on a 1099 basis are independent contractors and are self-employed. Independent contractors are required to pay all self-employment taxes (Social Security & Medicare) as well as income tax. Independent contractors generally do not receive any type of employment benefits from the client. For more information please refer to IRS or talk with a tax professional.”

• With the exception of the Part-Time Job Fair, 1099 independent contractor recruiting is not permitted at career fairs/events nor eligible for on-campus interviews.
• With the possible exception of obtaining industry licenses, no up-front investment, out-of-pocket, non-refundable fees, purchase of goods, inventories, sales leads required.
• No part of compensation may be dependent on recruiting others.
• No repayment/reimbursement for training costs, draws-on-commission/cash advances on salary should the UWF student or alumni decide to leave the position for any reason.