Reality Show Contestants Found to be Employees with Rights

 by Kenneth Yoon

So a recent court found that reality contestants were employees of the show and entitled to rights, such as workers compensation protections.

This came from Australia, but the concept could apply to California as well. Here’s the article:

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/27/australia/reality-tv-ruling-welfare-gbr-scli-intl/index.html

The contestant who claimed workers comp benefits said she suffered from adjustment disorder, anxiety disorder, depression and PTSD after working on the show. Not too surprising since the show was House Rules, one of those put people into a small space and make some drama type shows.

The New South Wales Workers Compensation Commission found for the applicant and found her a worker entitled to medical treatment costs. The key facts that the article mentions are the control the producers had over the contestants. Often the owners try to say their show is just a game, like football. But the control over these people is far more than a sport. These shows are 24/7 – and producers often control the contestants to a far greater degree than football players by a referee.

The main takeaway is that employee employer relationships are everywhere, not just where traditionally thought. And other countries face the same issues we have here in the USA, and California. It is interesting to see how other places handle these things as well. Something to keep in mind as the workplace changes and peoples’ jobs become less and less like the traditional manufacturing position.

This office represents workers, including those misclassified as independent contractors (or misclassified as anything other than correctly as employees).

---

About the Author

Kenneth Yoon is the founder Yoon Law, APC.