A recent Reddit thread on r/festivals has unearthed disturbing accounts of worker exploitation by a Quebec-based company that operates at festivals across North America. Festival staff reported working shifts exceeding 14 hours without breaks, insufficient accommodations, unreimbursed expenses, and low pay—all under a threat of retaliation for speaking out.
The original poster is now collecting testimonies from current and former festival workers to build a formal case aiming to improve labor conditions behind the scenes. Their efforts highlight the often invisible workforce responsible for producing massive festival events yet suffering poor treatment.
Comments on the thread echoed these concerns, revealing that exploitative practices extend beyond one company. Many thanked the poster for shedding light on systemic issues like excessive hours without fair compensation, inadequate rest, and the glorification of “exposure” over proper pay.
Calls for stronger industry oversight, legal action, and union representation surged as festival communities grappled with the reality that staff exploitation is a widespread problem requiring urgent reform.
This discussion serves as a crucial reminder: festival success hinges on the labor of countless behind-the-scenes workers whose rights too often go ignored. The push for accountability is gaining momentum—and the industry must listen.
Source: r/festivals