Buzzfeed ‘Displayed a Pattern of Disrespect’ to Freelancers, Says NYC Official in Announcing Settlement
AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File
New York City announced a settlement agreement with BuzzFeed to make overdue payments to freelance contributors, as well as inviting additional freelancers to file their own claims.
The claims were brought under the city’s Freelance Isn’t Free Act, which protects the rights of freelancers to written contracts, timely payment, and protection from retaliation — as well as establishing a complaint process. According to the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), since this law was enacted in 2017, the department has handled “nearly 4,300 complaints about potential violations, closed more than 3,500 cases, and helped Freelancers recover over $3,470,000.”
Sixteen freelance contributors filed complaints with DWCP over unpaid invoices. After an investigation, DWCP entered into a consent order with BuzzFeed settling the matter that described 114 separate invoices that had not been paid on time according to the freelancers’ contracts.
“It’s simple: Everyone deserves to be paid on time for their work, and our administration will always hold companies that break these crucial laws accountable,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams in a statement to Mediaite. “Today, we deliver justice for these freelance workers who were wronged, and we stand up, once again, for our workers’ most critical rights. To any New Yorker who hasn’t been paid on time for their hard work, your mayor has your back.”
The settlement requires BuzzFeed to pay within 30 days (the agreement was executed on May 8) a total of $50,000, which included $4,575.77 in civil penalties to be paid to DWCP and the remaining $45,424.23 to be distributed to the freelancers pursuant to the damages owed under their contracts and penalties for the late payments.
Importantly, the consent order also sets up a process for an unknown number of additional freelancers to pursue payments and late fees from BuzzFeed for their unpaid invoices.
According to the consent order, freelancers who are owed payments from BuzzFeed for invoices dated May 8, 2019 to August 15, 2024 can submit their claims, BuzzFeed will be allowed to provide good faith proof of compliance, if any, and if none exists, then BuzzFeed would be required to pay these additional freelancers the payments owed to them plus an established late fee as a penalty.
“All workers deserve to be paid in full and on time for their labor,” said DCWP Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga. “BuzzFeed displayed a pattern of disrespect to the freelance workers who performed crucial services for them, and we do not hesitate to hold companies who violate their workers’ rights accountable. We urge any freelancer who performed work for BuzzFeed and did not receive timely payment to reach out to us immediately.”
