Bank of America is under heavy scrutiny following the death of an intern who allegedly worked "15 hours a day or more" in a London-based office.

The 21-year-old intern, Moritz Erhardt, was found dead in the shower at his London flat Aug. 15.

A fellow intern was quoted in The Guardian calling the 15 hour-plus work days "typical" and saying that Erhardt "worked very hard and was very focused," calling him a "superstar."

The Daily Mail reported that Erhardt's friends said he worked an "all-nighter" eight times in a two-week span.

While the cause of death is still not officially known, the circumstances surrounding the situation serve as a sobering reminder that too many businesses and companies get away without paying interns enough, and in many cases, not paying them at all.

Following Erhardt's death, the Financial Times reported that Bank of America provided the rest of the interns with the opportunity to leave if desired. However, they decided to stay.

The Financial Times caught up with Katerina Ridger of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, who elaborated upon the circumstances faced by young employees.

"Young people are very desperate," she explained. "This kind of economic situation can mean they're open to exploitation, or might go the extra mile, not even because it's being asked of them but because they think that's what they need to do."

Erhardt went to school in Germany before heading to London for his internship. His parents traveled to London this week from their home in Germany.