Wayfair sold roughly $200,000 worth of furniture to a migrant children's detention center in 2019 and refused employee demands to halt the sales or donate the profits to immigrant aid organizations. A class action filed in Massachusetts alleges Wayfair required remote customer service employees to spend 10 to 15 minutes logging into systems before each shift without pay and to work during unpaid lunch breaks, violating wage laws in eight states. The CEO sent a company-wide email demanding long hours and work-life blending, then laid off 1,650 workers weeks later.

Why are people boycotting Wayfair?

Wayfair was boycotted in 2019 after selling furniture to migrant children's detention centers and refusing to reverse course despite a worker walkout. The company is also facing ongoing wage theft litigation from customer service employees. Hundreds of employees staged a walkout to protest the detention center sales, but management maintained it was company policy to fulfill government contracts.

What are the best ethical alternatives to Wayfair?

Apt2B makes furniture to order in Los Angeles with sustainable materials. Burrow offers modular, sustainably designed furniture with easy assembly. Local furniture stores and secondhand or vintage shops let you find quality pieces while keeping money in your community and reducing waste.

Wayfair

Flagged · Avoid

One of the largest online furniture and home goods retailers in the U.S., known for aggressive growth and a corporate culture that has repeatedly clashed with its own workforce.

Last updated June 13, 2026

Reasons to avoid

Issues span:Human RightsLabor

Wayfair sold roughly $200,000 worth of furniture to a migrant children's detention center in 2019 and refused employee demands to halt the sales or donate the profits to immigrant aid organizations. Hundreds of employees staged a walkout to protest the decision, but the company maintained that refusing government contracts was not its policy.cbsnews.com2019-06-26
A class action filed in federal court in Massachusetts alleges Wayfair required remote customer service employees to spend 10 to 15 minutes logging into work systems before each shift without pay, and to perform job tasks during unpaid lunch breaks. The lawsuit claims Wayfair violated wage laws in eight states including New York, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.customerexperiencedive.com2025-06-12
Weeks after CEO Niraj Shah sent a companywide email telling employees that "working long hours" and "blending work and life" was expected, Wayfair laid off 1,650 workers in January 2024, representing 13% of its global workforce. Shah said the cuts were necessary despite the company being "consistently profitable" and "gaining market share."cnn.com2024-01-19

Ethical alternatives

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Apt2B

Made-to-order furniture crafted in Los Angeles with sustainable materials.

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Burrow

Modular furniture designed for easy assembly and sustainability.

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Secondhand/Vintage Shops

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Common Questions

Is Wayfair ethical?: Wayfair sold roughly $200,000 worth of furniture to a migrant children's detention center in 2019 and refused employee demands to halt the sales or donate the profits to immigrant aid organizations. A class action filed in Massachusetts alleges Wayfair required remote customer service employees to spend 10 to 15 minutes logging into systems before each shift without pay and to work during unpaid lunch breaks, violating wage laws in eight states. The CEO sent a company-wide email demanding long hours and work-life blending, then laid off 1,650 workers weeks later.
Why are people boycotting Wayfair?: Wayfair was boycotted in 2019 after selling furniture to migrant children's detention centers and refusing to reverse course despite a worker walkout. The company is also facing ongoing wage theft litigation from customer service employees. Hundreds of employees staged a walkout to protest the detention center sales, but management maintained it was company policy to fulfill government contracts.
What are the best ethical alternatives to Wayfair?: Apt2B makes furniture to order in Los Angeles with sustainable materials. Burrow offers modular, sustainably designed furniture with easy assembly. Local furniture stores and secondhand or vintage shops let you find quality pieces while keeping money in your community and reducing waste.