Note to bosses: You still have to be human beings

Some fashion publicist something or other, who apparently appears in the scripted “reality” series The Hills, found out one of her interns was blogging about her and blew a gasket. I know, this isn’t really news. But the words the woman, whose name is Kelly Cutrone, used were just so vicious. According to New York Magazine, after she fired the (unpaid) intern, she then went on to threaten the poor NYU student. “I told her I’m going to sue the fuck out of your family if you don’t take it down immediately and your college tuition is going to seem like a pittance after you face my wrath.”

This just sounds all too much like every other asshole I’ve met who works in a high up position or makes a lot of money, especially in the entertainment industry, and therefore thinks they have the right to treat other people like crap. Even worse, sometimes they let people know up front that they’ll be working with a “strong personality,” basically saying they’re not going to stop being jerks for anyone, no matter what. Since when does a job give you permission to stop being polite and respectful to other people?

And the fact that this girl was an UNPAID intern just makes it all the more obnoxious. I always say I do the job I’m paid for. If I’m getting $2 an hour, I do a $2 an hour job. If I’m offered $200 an hour, however, I’ll do a damn good job. Employers should understand that you get what you pay for, and if they’re going to be jerks and fire people who aren’t getting paid anyway, or expect unreasonable amounts of responsibility from these volunteer workers, they should just do away with their whole internship program and hire actual paid workers. And yes, I’ve ranted about internships before, but it’s a subject I feel strongly about, especially now that the job ads are filled with so many unpaid positions.

What a bitch.