Features

New survey sheds light on gig workers and their evolving roles in the trillion-dollar industry

By:  Stephanie Ramirez

“Pre-Covid, people were saving the money they made from their gigs. Post-Covid, people are using their gig earnings to pay household bills. … If that continues, that’s a major change.” — Dr. Robert Peterson, Professor of Marketing and  Chair of Business Admin., The University of Texas at Austin 

In a comprehensive effort to unravel the intricate dynamics of the gig economy, a new survey sponsored by PayQuicker and the Ultimate Gig Research Project has been released, providing critical insights into the ever-changing world of gig workers in the United States. The research, based on surveys conducted in July 2020 and April 2023, forms an integral part of the extensive Ultimate Gig Research Project, dedicated to empirically assessing gig economy trends to enhance business strategies and inform public policy decisions. 

A growing number of former distributors are using the statute to allege exploitation through misclassification

By:  David Bland

The Beachbody Co., a fitness and wellness company known for its home workout programs, is being sued by one of its former distributors in a dual individual and class-action lawsuit filed under California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). The May 2023 filing was brought by Jessica Lyons, who joined Beachbody’s direct selling division, Team Beachbody, in 2016. Lyons’ lawsuit alleges that The Beachbody Company, Inc. (re-branded in 2023 as BODi) is exploiting its distributors (called Coaches) by misclassifying them as independent contractors instead of employees.

The 137-page lawsuit alleges that Beachbody, by misclassifying its Coaches, violated a wide variety of provisions of the California Labor Code that apply to employees, such as not paying them a minimum wage, not providing meal and rest breaks, failing to keep payroll records and wage statements, not reimbursing business expenses, and failing to pay unpaid wages at the time of separation of employment. The lawsuit alleges that all of these actions constitute unfair competition, in violation of California law.

The clock is ticking to avoid delisting on NYSE

By:  Dave Rauf

“The Company intends to develop and submit this business plan within the required timeframe, and to identify measures that are in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.”  – Tupperware

Tupperware is at risk of getting delisted by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) for noncompliance, following the direct-selling giant disclosing in April that it might go bankrupt. 

The latest in a growing list of issues for the maker of food storage containers and kitchen goods is the result of its average global market capitalization being less than $50 million over a 30-trading-day period. Also, its stockholders’ equity was less than $50 million when last reported, according to a regulatory filing.

Following the decision, the Commission submits supplemental findings to the Texas court adjudicating the Neora trial By:  David Bland A federal court in the District of Arizona has sided with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in its request to shut down a direct selling company called Success By Health (SBH)