What: Major retailers including Lush, Gymshark, Urban Outfitters, and Uniqlo are using social media platforms to recruit gig workers without basic employment rights for the Christmas period.

Why it is important: This trend signals a fundamental shift in retail employment practices that could undermine worker protections and reshape the industry's approach to seasonal staffing, contrasting sharply with traditional retailers who maintain comprehensive benefits for temporary workers.

Major retailers are turning to social media platforms and gig economy apps to recruit temporary staff for the Christmas period, raising significant concerns about employment rights. The Trades Union Congress has identified several prominent brands, including Lush, Gymshark, Urban Outfitters, and Uniqlo, using platforms like TikTok to hire freelance shop assistants through apps such as YoungOnes and Temper. These workers, unlike traditional temporary staff, are not entitled to basic employment protections such as holiday pay, minimum wage guarantees, or mandatory rest breaks. While some positions offer above-minimum-wage hourly rates, workers must reapply daily for shifts, creating employment instability. The TUC has expressed particular concern that these practices may circumvent both existing and upcoming employment rights legislation, potentially establishing a concerning precedent for future retail workforce management. This shift represents a significant departure from conventional seasonal hiring practices, where temporary workers typically enjoy standard employment protections through agency contracts.

IADS Notes: The emergence of gig-economy holiday hiring practices highlighted in this article represents a significant departure from traditional retail employment models seen throughout 2024. While major retailers like John Lewis and M&S maintained conventional approaches in October 2024 with substantial seasonal hiring of 12,500 and 11,000 workers respectively , these positions included standard employment protections and benefits. The contrast becomes particularly stark when considering El Corte Inglés's November 2024 structured approach, which emphasized training programs and career development for their 6,000 seasonal workers . The industry's employment challenges are further exemplified by the December 2024 Harrods staff strike over working conditions, suggesting that retailers' attempts to reduce costs through alternative employment models could face significant resistance. This shift towards gig-based hiring may signal a broader transformation in retail employment practices, potentially challenging the industry's traditional balance between operational efficiency and worker protections.

Lush and Gymshark top list of retailers accused of hiring young Christmas staff without rights