INFO EUROPE 1
A court ruling could call into question the entire sector of the collaborative economy, in which everyone via their smartphone or their computer can become a contributor. The Lille start-up Clic and Walk , of which it is the model, has, according to information from Europe 1, been condemned for "hidden work". For the Douai Court of Appeal, the contributors are employees. Classified by UNESCO as one of the most innovative start-ups in the world, Clic and Walk has revolutionized direct marketing, allowing companies and brands to follow the visibility of their products in stores, or to feel the impressions of consumers.
For this, a community of contributors, "click-walkers", sends photos on the application for a reward ... on average 6 euros per year. No question therefore of remuneration, a simple symbolic reward. And yet, justice believes that the 700,000 members must be considered as employees of the application.
Relaxed then condemned
Initially and after two years of investigation, the Lille Court had first acquitted the company for hidden work. But on appeal, justice has finally ruled that the 700,000 contributors should be considered as employees of the start-up. In addition, he was fined 50,000 euros.
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Incomprehensible for the founder of Clic and Walk . "When we ask our click-walkers to take a picture of their packet of dog food, I find it hard to understand how we can imagine that we are under a work contract", is indignant Frederique Grigolato. "They are in a participative approach, we talk about a community of consumers, we have never had a complaint to the industrial tribunal of people who would have requested a requalification, nor a complaint from Ursaff, nor from customers ... We don't really understand what's going on. "
In addition, this decision risks, in her view, "strongly impacting the entire collaborative and participative economy", since it is the model for many other companies. Clic and Walk therefore decided to take the case to the Court of Cassation, hoping that the case law would make it possible to consolidate its activity, as well as that of the whole participatory economy.