Urban Outfitters Wants Its Employees to Work for Free

URBN has since issued a statement regarding the controversy, telling Daily Mail Online that it received a “tremendous response” from employees who were purportedly eager to help out. What this means is that employees at the URBN home office were being asked to work for free in order to help make sure customers got their orders speedily.

Yes kids, I can tell you’re licking your chops in ardent salivation….

URBN, Urban Outfitters’ parent company in Philadelphia, sent an email out asking full-time employees there to volunteer time to work five weekend days in October without pay, according to Business Insider.

Presenting the extra, unpaid shifts as a “team-building activity”, the memo reads: ‘URBN is seeking weekend volunteers to help out at our fulfillment center in Gap, PA. October will be the busiest month yet for the center, and we need additional helping hands to ensure the timely shipment of orders.’

What could be a better team-building exercise than packing and shipping boxes? The email advises participants to wear sneakers and comfortable clothing to prepare for this team building activity.

Technically speaking, it’s not for “free” since all of the employee volunteers are salaried employees, not hourly.

According to Gawker, URBN responded to reports about Urban Outfitters’ employees being asked to work without pay. The world’s largest retailer, Walmart, has been called out for its share of labor abuses and shady employment practices, while other chains have been quick to throw their employees under the bus when tough times hit.

Earlier this week, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said Urban Outfitters agreed to phase out and eventually end on-call shifts in the state starting in November. Workers deserve basic protections, including a reliable work schedule that allows them to budget living expenses, arrange for child care needs, and plan their days.

A media representative declined to say whether the company’s done such calls to action in the past or whether the hiring of temporary workers or paying overtime to hourly employees had been considered.

After releasing Navajo-themed clothes and accessories in 2011, Urban Outfitters was slapped by a lawsuit from the Navajo Nation for using its name on products. It also said: “The dedication and commitment of URBN employees are second to none, and their response to this request is a testament to their solidarity and continued success”.