Retailers accused by the government of employing ‘gig’ workers without rights

According to an investigation by The Observer, retailers are hiring young ‘gig-workers’ for seasonal work without providing them with basic employment rights.

Urban Outfitters and Lush are among the high-street brands accused of hiring “freelance workers” through apps like YoungOnes and Temper.

Social media platforms like TikTok are used to promote these apps among young people.

They are not entitled to the same rights as salaried employees or agency workers. This includes holiday pay, minimum wage, rest breaks, and national minimum wages.

Urban Outfitters posted a job ad on YoungOnes looking for “friendly young” people to work in Stratford and Marble Arch stores, as well as Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Gymshark advertised for 30 assistants in its London main store. Lush was looking for freelance checkout staff for busy times in Liverpool.

Tim Sharp, senior officer of employment rights for the TUC, said to the newspaper that it was a new and “worrying development”.

It would be absurd for most people to think that someone could work in a store and not have basic legal protections. The employment status of these alleged freelancers is in question.

It’s about the ability of firms to adjust staffing levels up and down. This clearly transfers risk from the owner to each employee, and we find that unacceptable.

Apps like those used by retailers may be able to circumvent any legislation that is coming.

According to the bill, employers are required to offer guaranteed hour contracts at the end every “reference periods”.

APSCo, a trade association, has advised against the ban on agency workers, stating that employers may find it difficult to provide guaranteed hours of work for agency workers.

Uniqlo responded to the claims by telling the Observer it used “independent professional” to complement its team. Urban Outfitters Lush and Gymshark, however, did not reply to an inquiry for comment.

YoungOnes, which connects businesses with independent professionals in line with UK law and regulations, told the newspaper that it was operating according to UK law.

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