The Dark Side of Direct Sales

Big money, glam work trips abroad, and becoming your own boss. Sounds good for your first job out of college or uni, doesn’t it?

Some direct-selling firms in the UK are jumping on the popularity of hustle culture to recruit young people into entry-level jobs in ‘marketing’ or ‘management’ to work with big-name clients.

The reality is often very different though - working up to 80-hour weeks doing door-to-door sales or selling to people on the street. An ex-agent at one company in Newcastle said forfeits for not hitting sales targets included eating chillies or having your hair cut off. He said he was earning so little he couldn't afford shampoo. Another in London said the pressure to get sales meant she couldn’t have a toilet break.

So how is this possible, and who is responsible for the welfare of these young people? Despite some companies offering full-time jobs, often advertised with a base salary, Lora Jones discovers many are asked to register as self-employed so don’t receive minimum wage and paid holiday.

With the rise of hustle culture and #riseandgrind have they been sold a dream? And what can young people do to protect themselves?