Whether they are paid can make a difference
Generally, paid interns are considered to be employees and are covered by a workers’ comp policy.
If the intern is unpaid, it can be harder to determine.
An intern might be eligible for workers’ compensation coverage if they are unpaid but their duties and schedule are directly controlled by you as the employer.
Since coverage for unpaid interns can vary from state to state, it’s best to check with your insurer or agent.
Volunteers are different from interns
There is a difference between unpaid interns and volunteers. While unpaid interns may sometimes be considered employees, volunteers usually aren’t. Interns are considered to be college students or recent graduates seeking experience in a professional field.
For more information, see the video below:
This is not intended to serve as legal advice for individual fact-specific legal cases or as a legal basis for your employment practices.