NYC Reaches Settlement with L’Officiel Over Unpaid Freelancers 2017-2023

The City of New York has reached a settlement on behalf of unpaid freelancers working for French media brand L’Officiel. As of July 14, 2023 L’Officiel has agreed to pay more than $275,000 to 41 freelancers.

Plaintiffs included writers, editors, photographers, videographers, graphic designers and illustrators.

The lawsuit was the first action taken under the jurisdiction of FIFA (the city's Freelance Isn't Free Act), organized by the mayor’s office to protect freelancers who delivered works commissioned by L’Officiel but remained unpaid, sometimes for years.

"New York City will always support workers' rights, especially for our freelancers who often don't have access to as many benefits as full-time employees," Adams said in a statement. "We will not tolerate companies that fail to pay freelance workers what they're owed. Under this agreement, we will ensure the 41 freelancers who worked for L'Officiel get the money to which they're entitled and ensure these violations do not happen again. Let this serve as a lesson: If you try to take freelance workers for a ride, we will hold you accountable. I urge any freelancer not properly paid by L'Officiel for their work to file a claim as quickly as possible."

FIFA was codified in the previous mayoral administration of Bill de Blasio.

Notice to Unpaid L’Officiel NYC Freelancers Who Have Not Filed a Claim Must Do So By Feb. 7, 2024

Freelancers who were not fully paid by L'Officiel for work performed between Jan. 1, 2017, and July 11, 2023, and were not specifically named in the suit, must file a claim by Feb. 7, 2024, in order to participate in the settlement.

Freelancers named in the agreement do not need to file a claim and will receive an email with information explaining how to receive payment.